Canadian goose
1
3.2
- noun
- /kəˈneɪdiən ɡus/
- US
:
ganso canadiense
- While walking by the lake, I spotted a flock of Canadian geese loudly honking as they flew overhead.
Examples
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The Canadian goose mates for life.
Blog text (30) -
For many years, it was illegal to kill Canadian geese.
Blog text (22) -
Right through a flock of Canadian geese.
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One single Canadian goose.
Blog text (17) -
And here's the two of them in the park again, stalking some Canadian geese who had landed here in the park.
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Canadian geese are grossly overpopulated due to poor management by the US Fish and Wildlife Management Service.
Blog text (22) -
The park ranger reminded visitors not to feed the Canadian geese to prevent them from becoming dependent on humans.
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During the spring, many Canadian geese return to their nesting sites near the water.
Synonyms
3
2.7
A large wild goose from North America with a black head and neck and white cheeks
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
How Big
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'Canadian' (from Canada) with 'goose' (a waterbird): a goose associated with Canada. This nationality + animal naming pattern is cross-linguistically common and follows standard composition rules, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand the MWE.
Etymology
Canadian goose was named by early settlers and explorers who saw these geese in and near Canada and used Canadian to show where the goose came from. That's why today Canadian goose means the large wild bird with a black head, white patches on the cheeks, and a loud honking call often seen near lakes and rivers.