graylag
9.3
A large wild grey goose from Europe
- noun
- /ˈɡreɪˌlæɡ/
- US
:
ganso común
- During our hike, we spotted a flock of graylag geese swimming gracefully on the lake.
Examples
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The graylag is known for its distinctive honk, which can often be heard in wetlands during migration.
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On the farm, we raised graylag geese, which are popular for their size and friendly nature.
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I listen to the call of the graylag goose and dream of the places they come from.
Academic text (1998)
Synonyms
5.6
A large gray wild goose common in Europe and western Asia
is identical in meaning but is the shorter common name form
8.3
A large grey wild goose from Europe and Asia that is the ancestor of many farm geese
is the common everyday name rather than the scientific Latin name
Compounds
Surface Forms
Etymology
Graylag comes from the obvious parts gray ('grey') and lag, and the name simply points to a large wild goose known for its grey colour. So, think of a big 'grey' goose in flocks — that image helps you remember that many domestic geese came from the graylag.
