Canada goose
3
2.7
- noun
- /ˈkænədə ɡus/
- US
:
ganso canadiense
- One crisp morning, we awoke to a flock of 50 Canada geese landing next to our boat.
Examples
-
On the river, a pair of Canada geese paddle upstream, six goslings drafting in their wake.
Fiction book (2000) -
Thousands of ducks, Canada geese, and sandhill cranes winter at the refuge, the largest flocks in Arizona.
Academic text (2001) -
I once watched a Canada goose whose mate had been shot by hunters.
Fiction book (1992) -
At first, they didn't suspect the Canada geese that had also been visiting the swamp in increasing numbers.
Blog text (26) -
Tundra swans and Canada geese literally surrounded them.
Fiction book (1996) -
Visiting our house, Mother looked out at the marsh; the ice chunks were melting fast, and the Canada geese were becoming more scarce.
Fiction book (1998) -
Canada geese, v'd and honking, flew southward, looking for a place to stay the night.
Fiction book (1997) -
The meadow was filled with fog, a bowl, no, a sea of whipped cream with dark peaks that at first were scattered branches, then Canada geese, too many to count, part of a flock that was waiting out the fog.
Fiction book (2000) -
Some of the region's largest populations of game birds—ducks, Canada geese, quails, pheasants, and chukars—nest there as well.
Academic text (1990) -
On the river, a pair of Canada geese paddle upstream, six goslings drafting in their wake.
Synonyms
1
3.2
A large wild goose with a black head and white cheek patches that honks loudly and is often near lakes
1
9.3
A Canada goose that makes a loud long sound
A large North American wild goose with grey-brown feathers and a loud call
A large goose with a long neck that often hisses or chases people
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound combines the country name 'Canada' with the noun 'goose' to denote a type of goose associated with Canada; this meaning is directly derivable from the constituents. Such country‑name + animal constructions are common cross‑linguistically (e.g., 'ganso canadiense'), so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand it refers to a species/type of goose.
Etymology
Canada goose gets its name from the bird's strong tie to Canada because people often saw it there. So the name Canada goose, literally Canada and goose, makes the image of 'a large wild goose from Canada', which is why it refers to this big North American bird today.