Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Bernicle \Ber"ni*cle\, n. [OE. bernak, bernacle; cf. OF. bernac;
   prob. fr. LL. bernacula for hibernicula, bernicula, fr.
   Hibernia; the birds coming from Hibernia or Ireland. Cf. 1st
   {Barnacle}.]
   A bernicle goose. [Written also {barnacle}.]

   {Bernicle goose} (Zo["o]l.), a goose ({Branta leucopsis}), of
      Arctic Europe and America. It was formerly believed that
      it hatched from the cirripeds of the sea ({Lepas}), which
      were, therefore, called barnacles, goose barnacles, or
      Anatifers. The name is also applied to other related
      species. See {Anatifa} and {Cirripedia}.

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}.

Source : WordNet®

Branta leucopsis
     n : European goose smaller than the brant; breeds in the far
         north [syn: {barnacle goose}, {barnacle}]