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goose

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goose

  [goos] noun, plural geese for 1, 2, 4, 8, 11; goos⋅es for 5–7; verb, goosed, goos⋅ing.
–noun
1. any of numerous wild or domesticated, web-footed swimming birds of the family Anatidae, esp. of the genera Anser and Branta, most of which are larger and have a longer neck and legs than the ducks.
2. the female of this bird, as distinguished from the male, or gander.
3. the flesh of a goose, used as food.
4. a silly or foolish person; simpleton.
5. Slang. a poke between the buttocks to startle.
6. Informal. anything that energizes, strengthens, or the like: to give the economy a badly needed goose.
7. a tailor's smoothing iron with a curved handle.
8. an obsolete board game played with dice and counters in which a player whose cast falls in a square containing the picture of a goose is allowed to advance double the number of his or her throw.
–verb (used with object)
9. Slang. to poke (a person) between the buttocks to startle.
10. Informal.
a. to prod or urge to action or an emotional reaction: The promise of time off may goose the workers and increase profits.
b. to strengthen or improve (often fol. by up): Let's goose up the stew with some wine.
c. to increase; raise (often fol. by up): to goose up government loans in weak industries.
d. to give a spurt of fuel to (a motor) to increase speed.
—Idiom
11. cook someone's goose, Informal. to ruin someone's hopes, plans, chances, etc.: His goose was cooked when they found the stolen gems in his pocket.
Use goose in a Sentence
Origin:
bef. 1000; ME gose, goos, OE gōs (pl. gēs); c. G Gans, ON gās; cf. Skt haṅsa, Gk chn, L ānser

Related forms:
gooselike, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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goose   (gōōs)   
n.   pl. geese (gēs)

    1. Any of various wild or domesticated water birds of the family Anatidae, and especially of the genera Anser and Branta, characteristically having a shorter neck than that of a swan and a shorter, more pointed bill than that of a duck.

    2. The female of such a bird.

    3. The flesh of such a bird used as food.

  2. Informal A silly person.

  3. pl. goos·es A tailor's pressing iron with a long curved handle.

  4. Slang A poke, prod, or pinch between or on the buttocks.

tr.v.   goosed, goos·ing, goos·es Slang

  1. To poke, prod, or pinch (a person) between or on the buttocks.

  2. To move to action; spur: goosed the governor to sign the tax bill.

  3. To give a spurt of fuel to (a car, for example); cause to accelerate quickly. "The pilot goosed his craft, powering away" (Nicholas Proffitt).


[Middle English goos, from Old English gōs; see ghans- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary
goose

  1. n.
    a silly oaf; an oaf. : Oh, I'm such a silly goose!
  2. tv.
    to (attempt to) poke something, such as a finger, in someone's anus. : Freddy tried to goose me!
  3. n.
    an attempt to goosesomeone. (As in sense 2.) : He tried to give me a goose.
  4. tv.
    to rev up an engine; to press down hard on the accelerator of a car. : Why don't you goose the thing and see how fast it'll go?
  5. n.
    an act of suddenly pressing down the accelerator of a car. : Give it a good goose and see what happens.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Word Origin & History

goose 
"a large waterfowl proverbially noted, I know not why, for foolishness" [Johnson], O.E. gos, from P.Gmc. *gans- "goose" (cf. O.Fris. gos, O.N. gas, O.H.G. gans, Ger. Gans "goose"), from PIE *ghans- (cf. Skt. hamsah, masc., hansi, fem., "goose swan;" Gk. khen; L. anser; Pol. ges "goose;" Lith. zasis "goose;" O.Ir. geiss "swan"), probably imitative of its honking. Sp. ganso "goose" is from a Gmc. source. Loss of "n" sound is normal before "s." Plural form geese is an example of i-mutation. Meaning "simpleton" is from 1547. The verbal meaning "jab in the rear" (c.1880) is possibly from resemblance of the upturned thumb to a goose's beak. To cook one's goose first attested 1845, of unknown origin; attempts to connect it to Swedish history and Gk. fables have been unconvincing. Goose egg "zero" first attested 1866 in baseball slang. Goose bumps (1933) was earlier goose flesh (c.1810) and goose skin (1785). The goose that laid the golden egg is from Aesop. Goose step (1806) originally was a military drill to teach balance; "to stand on each leg alternately and swing the other back and forth" (which, presumably, reminded someone of a goose's way of walking); in reference to "marching without bending the knees" (as in Nazi military reviews) it apparently is first recorded 1916.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Idioms & Phrases

goose

In addition to the idioms beginning with goose, also see cook someone's goose; gone coon (goose); kill the goose that laid the golden eggs; sauce for the goose; wild goose chase.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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