Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. A waterfowl (Branta leucopsis) of northern Europe and Greenland that breeds in the Arctic and has a white face with a black streak between the eyes and bill.
Wiktionary
- n. A black and white species of bird from the northern hemisphere, scientifically known as the Branta leucopsis
WordNet 3.0
- n. European goose smaller than the brant; breeds in the far north
Etymologies
- Earlier barnacle; see barnacle.
Examples
“MAX MUELLER38 has suggested that this word was really derived from Hibernicula, the name thus referring to Ireland, where the birds were caught; but common opinion associated the barnacle goose with the shell-fish known as the barnacle (which is found on timber exposed to the sea), supposing that the former was generated out of the latter.”
“[38] See F. MAX MUELLER'S Lectures on the Science of Language (1885), where a very full account of the tradition concerning the origin of the barnacle goose will be found.”
Lists
‘barnacle goose’ hasn't been added to any lists yet.
sionnach
Their roots so deeply soaked send from their stocky boughs
A soft and sappy gum, from which these tree-geese grow;
Still great and greater thrive, until you well may see
Them turned to perfect fowls; when dropping from the tree
Into the merry pond which under them doth lie,
Wax ripe, and taking wing, away in flocks do fly.
(17th century poet, Michael Drayton) Nov 18, 2008
frindley In the Mediæval Bestiary:
"Barnacle geese come from trees that grow over water. These trees produce birds that look like small geese; the young birds hang from their beaks from the trees. When the birds are mature enough, they fall from the trees; any that fall into the water float and are safe, but those that fall on land die." Oct 12, 2008
dystopos see anatiferous Jul 10, 2007