Goose
/ɡuːs/noun
A waterbird of the family Anatidae, often domesticated for meat and eggs.
Did you know?In ancient times, geese were considered sacred birds, often linked to the goddess Juno, who was associated with protection and fertility.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʰeu̯s
“to call or to shout, invoking the loud honking of the bird.”
Old English
Old English
gōs
“the domestic or wild bird known for its honking.”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*gans
“the common term for a goose, used across various Germanic languages.”
Old Norse
Old Norse
gás
“the term for a goose, often appearing in mythological contexts.”
Middle English
Middle English
gose
“the evolved form of the word as it appeared in medieval texts.”
Modern English
English
goose
“the current form and usage referring to the bird.”