gosling

American  

[goz-ling] / ˈgɒz lɪŋ /

noun

1. a young goose.

2. a foolish, inexperienced person.

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gosling British  

/ ˈɡɒzlɪŋ /

noun

1. a young goose

2. an inexperienced or youthful person

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Etymology

Origin of gosling

1375–1425; late Middle English goselyng; see goose, -ling ¹; cognate with Old Norse gæslingr

Explanation

A baby goose is called a gosling. If you visit a farm in the springtime you'll get to see all the calves, ducklings, lambs, chicks, and goslings! The word gosling has Scandinavian roots — it comes from the Old Norse gæslingr, adding a diminutive suffix to gos, or "goose." So a gosling is essentially a "gooseling," like a duckling, a smaller and cuter version of an animal. Goslings hatch from eggs in nests built close to a body of water, and they are taught to swim and feed in the water almost immediately after they hatch.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gosling

Twitter user @taeerage wrote, “seeing what ryan gosling and margot robbie wear on the set of barbie is more exciting than the met gala.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2022

They schedule its care, using dormitory lamps to warm the unhatched gosling, which James names Crookshanks.

From New York Times ● Jan. 18, 2022

Taz the emu and Alfred the kid were born around the same time, and have now added gosling Wiggle to their gang at Caenhill Countryside Centre in Devizes, Wiltshire.

From BBC ● Apr. 1, 2021

Adults reading it aloud will smile as Roz, with her “computer brain packed full of parenting advice,” guides her curious gosling to take his place in the world.

From Washington Post ● May 3, 2016

Roz placed the gosling on her flat shoulder, and the two of them set off across the island.

From "The Wild Robot" by Peter Brown