GOOSE

I. noun (plural geese) Etymology: Middle English gos, from Old English gōs; akin to Old High German gans ~, Latin anser, Greek chēn Date: before 12th century 1. any of numerous large waterfowl (family Anatidae) that are intermediate between the swans and ducks and have long necks, feathered lores, and reticulate tarsi, a female ~ as distinguished from a gander, simpleton , dolt , a tailor's smoothing iron with a ~neck handle, a poke between the buttocks, II. transitive verb (~d; goosing) Date: circa 1880 to poke between the buttocks with an upward thrust, to increase the activity, speed, power, intensity, or amount of ; spur