Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Fen \Fen\, n. [AS. fen, fenn, marsh, mud, dirt; akin to D. veen,
OFries. fenne, fene, OHG. fenna, G. fenn, Icel. fen, Goth.
fani mud.]
Low land overflowed, or covered wholly or partially with
water, but producing sedge, coarse grasses, or other aquatic
plants; boggy land; moor; marsh.
'Mid reedy fens wide spread. --Wordsworth.
Note: Fen is used adjectively with the sense of belonging to,
or of the nature of, a fen or fens.
{Fen boat}, a boat of light draught used in marshes.
{Fen duck} (Zo["o]l.), a wild duck inhabiting fens; the
shoveler. [Prov. Eng.]
{Fen fowl} (Zo["o]l.), any water fowl that frequent fens.
{Fen goose} (Zo["o]l.), the graylag goose of Europe. [Prov.
Eng.]
{Fen land}, swamp land.
Goose \Goose\ (g[=oo]s), n.; pl. {Geese} (g[=e]s). [OE. gos, AS.
g[=o]s, pl. g[=e]s; akin to D. & G. gans, Icel. g[=a]s, Dan.
gaas, Sw. g[*a]s, Russ. guse. OIr. geiss, L. anser, for
hanser, Gr. chh`n, Skr. ha[.m]sa. [root]233. Cf. {Gander},
{Gannet}, {Ganza}, {Gosling}.] (Zo["o]l.)
1. Any large web-footen bird of the subfamily {Anserin[ae]},
and belonging to {Anser}, {Branta}, {Chen}, and several
allied genera. See {Anseres}.
Note: The common domestic goose is believed to have been
derived from the European graylag goose ({Anser
anser}). The bean goose ({A. segetum}), the American
wild or Canada goose ({Branta Canadensis}), and the
bernicle goose ({Branta leucopsis}) are well known
species. The American white or snow geese and the blue
goose belong to the genus {Chen}. See {Bernicle},
{Emperor goose}, under {Emperor}, {Snow goose}, {Wild
goose}, {Brant}.
2. Any large bird of other related families, resembling the
common goose.
Note: The Egyptian or fox goose ({Alopochen [AE]gyptiaca})
and the African spur-winged geese ({Plectropterus})
belong to the family {Plectropterid[ae]}. The
Australian semipalmated goose ({Anseranas semipalmata})
and Cape Barren goose ({Cereopsis
Nov[ae]-Hollandi[ae]}) are very different from northern
geese, and each is made the type of a distinct family.
Both are domesticated in Australia.
3. A tailor's smoothing iron, so called from its handle,
which resembles the neck of a goose.
4. A silly creature; a simpleton.
5. A game played with counters on a board divided into
compartments, in some of which a goose was depicted.
The pictures placed for ornament and use, The twelve
good rules, the royal game of goose. --Goldsmith.
{A wild goose chase}, an attempt to accomplish something
impossible or unlikely of attainment.
{Fen goose}. See under {Fen}.
{Goose barnacle} (Zo["o]l.), any pedunculated barnacle of the
genus {Anatifa} or {Lepas}; -- called also {duck
barnacle}. See {Barnacle}, and {Cirripedia}.
{Goose cap}, a silly person. [Obs.] --Beau. & .
{Goose corn} (Bot.), a coarse kind of rush ({Juncus
squarrosus}).
{Goose feast}, Michaelmas. [Colloq. Eng.]
{Goose flesh}, a peculiar roughness of the skin produced by
cold or fear; -- called also {goose skin}.