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Glite Dictionary
Anser anser

Anser anser

8.3
A large grey wild goose from Europe and Asia that is the ancestor of many farm geese
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Anser anser
  • Many domestic geese are descended from Anser anser.

Examples

  • The migration patterns of Anser anser have been studied extensively by ornithologists.

  • The Anser anser is a large grey goose.

  • Flocks of Anser anser can often be seen grazing in European wetlands during autumn.

  • I saw a flock of Anser anser at the lake.

  • Flocks of Anser anser can often be seen grazing in European wetlands during autumn.

  • Many domestic geese are descended from Anser anser.

  • The migration patterns of Anser anser have been studied extensively by ornithologists.

Synonyms

graylag goose
vsAnser anser
  • US
5.6

A large gray wild goose common in Europe and western Asia

has a wider native range across Europe and Asia rather than only western areas
graylag
vsAnser anser
  • US
9.3

A large wild grey goose from Europe

refers to a wider native range including Asia rather than only Europe

Surface Forms

Anser anser singular
Anser anser plural

Morphology

Anser + Anser

Knowing 'Anser' as a genus of geese allows a learner to infer that 'Anser anser' names a particular kind of goose (so they can partially infer it denotes a goose), but the precise sense 'greylag goose' and the taxonomic binomial convention (repetition indicating species name) are specialized knowledge not predictable from everyday vocabulary. Because some inference to 'a type of goose' is possible but full meaning requires domain knowledge, this is best classified as semi-transparent.

Etymology

The noun Anser anser comes from Latin: the word anser means 'goose', so the name literally says 'goose goose' and refers to the greylag goose, the wild bird that many domestic geese come from.