goose
UK[ɡuːs]US[ɡuːs]
n
a large waterbird with a long neck, short legs, webbed feet, and a broad bill.
n
the flesh of a goose as food.
v
(informal) poke (someone) between the buttocks.
Etymology
the word "goose" is a direct descendant of the old english "gōs", which itself stems from the proto-germanic "gans-". this germanic root can be traced further back to the proto-indo-european (pie) root "ǵʰh₂éns-", which meant "goose". this pie root is widely attested across the indo-european language family, giving rise to similar words such as latin "anser", greek "khḗn", and sanskrit "haṃsáḥ". the word's journey represents a classic case of a stable, ancient noun for a common animal that has undergone regular sound changes (like the germanic consonant shift) but has retained its core meaning and monosyllabic form for millennia.
Analysis
this is a simplex word. it is a native english word inherited directly from old english "gōs". its functional role is as a complete lexical root.
Examples
a flock of geese flew overhead in a v-formation.
we traditionally have roast goose for christmas dinner.
he snuck up and goosed his friend as a joke.