brant

3 9.3

A small dark goose that breeds in the far north and flies south for the winter

noun
/brænt/

: ganso brant

Each spring, the brant returns to its breeding grounds in the northern tundra.

Examples

I saw a flock of brant geese flying south for the winter.
The brant is known for its distinctive dark coloration and unique honking sound.
A Poet of Public Occasion: Elegies for Red Jacket and Brant.

Academic text (2017)
The poem documents Brant's historic loyalty to the Crown.

Academic text (2017)
One traveler noted that he "met Joseph Brant one morning on the American side of the border, dressed in fine western attire."

Academic text (2017)

Synonyms

Branta bernicla

vsbrant

Specialized

9.9

A small dark-bellied wild goose that lives on Arctic and temperate coasts

is the everyday common name rather than the scientific Latin form

brant goose

vsbrant

9.3

A small dark goose that breeds in the far north and flies south for winter

is the shorter name omitting the explicit bird type

brent

vsbrant

9.9

A small dark goose that breeds in the Arctic and flies south in winter

is the full common name used more widely in general descriptions

brent goose

vsbrant

8.8

A small dark goose that breeds in the Arctic and flies south for the winter

is described more generally as breeding in northern regions

common brant goose

vsbrant

5.8

A small dark bird that lives on northern coasts and eats sea plants

is the general species term covering this and other varieties

Compounds

brant goose

9.3

A small dark goose that breeds in the far north and flies south for winter

common brant goose

5.8

A small dark bird that lives on northern coasts and eats sea plants

Surface Forms

brant singular

brants plural

Etymology

The word brant comes from an old Norse name brandgás, which meant 'burnt goose' because the bird has very dark feathers. So, think of a brant as a 'burnt' or very dark goose, and that image helps explain the modern name.