goose corn

1 definition found

goose corn - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Goose \Goose\ (g[=oo]s), n.; pl. Geese (g[=e]s). [OE. gos, AS.
     g[=o]s, pl. g[=e]s; akin to D. & G. gans, Icel. g[=a]s, Dan.
     gaas, Sw. g[*a]s, Russ. guse. OIr. geiss, L. anser, for
     hanser, Gr. chh`n, Skr. ha[.m]sa. [root]233. Cf. Gander,
     Gannet, Ganza, Gosling.] (Zool.)
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     1. Any large web-footen bird of the subfamily Anserin[ae],
        and belonging to Anser, Branta, Chen, and several
        allied genera. See Anseres.
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     Note: The common domestic goose is believed to have been
           derived from the European graylag goose (Anser anser
           ). The bean goose (A. segetum), the American
           wild or Canada goose (Branta Canadensis), and the
           bernicle goose (Branta leucopsis) are well known
           species. The American white or snow geese and the blue
           goose belong to the genus Chen. See Bernicle,
           Emperor goose, under Emperor, Snow goose, Wild goose
           , Brant.
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     2. Any large bird of other related families, resembling the
        common goose.
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     Note: The Egyptian or fox goose (Alopochen Aegyptiaca) and
           the African spur-winged geese (Plectropterus) belong
           to the family Plectropterid[ae]. The Australian
           semipalmated goose (Anseranas semipalmata) and Cape
           Barren goose (Cereopsis Nov[ae]-Hollandi[ae]) are
           very different from northern geese, and each is made
           the type of a distinct family. Both are domesticated in
           Australia.
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     3. A tailor's smoothing iron, so called from its handle,
        which resembles the neck of a goose.
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     4. A silly creature; a simpleton.
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     5. A game played with counters on a board divided into
        compartments, in some of which a goose was depicted.
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              The pictures placed for ornament and use,
              The twelve good rules, the royal game of goose.
                                                    --Goldsmith.
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     A wild goose chase, an attempt to accomplish something
        impossible or unlikely of attainment.
  
     Fen goose. See under Fen.
  
     Goose barnacle (Zool.), any pedunculated barnacle of the
        genus Anatifa or Lepas; -- called also duck  barnacle
        . See Barnacle, and Cirripedia.
  
     Goose cap, a silly person. [Obs.] --Beau. & .
  
     Goose corn (Bot.), a coarse kind of rush (Juncus  squarrosus
        ).
  
     Goose feast, Michaelmas. [Colloq. Eng.]
  
     Goose grass. (Bot.)
        (a) A plant of the genus Galium (G. Aparine), a
            favorite food of geese; -- called also catchweed and
            cleavers.
        (b) A species of knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare).
        (c) The annual spear grass (Poa annua).
  
     Goose neck, anything, as a rod of iron or a pipe, curved
        like the neck of a goose; specially (Naut.), an iron hook
        connecting a spar with a mast.
  
     Goose quill, a large feather or quill of a goose; also, a
        pen made from it.
  
     Goose skin. See Goose flesh, above.
  
     Goose tongue (Bot.), a composite plant (Achillea  ptarmica
        ), growing wild in the British islands.
  
     Sea goose. (Zool.) See Phalarope.
  
     Solan goose. (Zool.) See Gannet.
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