barnacle goose
- noun
- /ˈbɑrnəkl ɡus/
- UK
:
ganso de barnacles
- In the spring, the barnacle goose returns to its breeding grounds in the far north.
Examples
-
The barnacle goose migrates from the Arctic to southern Europe every winter.
-
But based on the barnacle goose's looks and behavior, most ornithologists agree that it deserves separate species status.
Academic text (2002) -
It's affecting Barnacle geese in parts of Scotland and they're dying in pretty large numbers.
-
For instance, detailed study of the DNA of the barnacle goose has located its origin on a twig of the Canada goose's family tree.
Academic text (2002) -
Farmers in Scotland often see barnacle geese grazing in their fields during migration.
Synonyms
A small European goose with a white face that breeds in the far north, called the barnacle goose
A small black-and-white goose that breeds in the Arctic and flies south in winter
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is directly compositional: 'barnacle' here names a subtype and 'goose' is the bird class, so 'barnacle goose' is simply a goose of the barnacle type (a species). Although 'barnacle' often refers to a crustacean in general usage, given the provided constituent meaning as the specific goose, a B1 learner who knows both words can infer the compound meaning.
Etymology
Barnacle goose comes from a strange belief long ago. People who fished found shell creatures called barnacles on pieces of wood and thought geese grew from them because no one had seen the birds' nests, so the name stuck for the real goose we call the barnacle goose.
