MOTHER GOOSE

an old woman who is supposed to have written nursery rhymes . She is shown in pictures as a woman with a pointed nose and chin riding on the back of a flying goose. She first appeared in English in two books published in London, Mother Goose’s Tales (1768) and Mother Goose’s Melody; or Sonnets for the Cradle (1781), some of which was probably written by Oliver Goldsmith . The name ‘Mother Goose’ comes from part of a French expression which means ‘old wives’ tales’.