gosling
Americannoun
-
a young goose
-
an inexperienced or youthful person
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
They help her to raise an orphaned gosling and deal with a harsh winter and a lost foot.
From Washington Post ● May 3, 2016
So she scooped up the nest with the gosling inside, placed it on her flat shoulder, and marched through the forest, searching for geese.
From "The Wild Robot" by Peter Brown
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