Gooseling

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A young offspring of a goose that is still in its early growth phase
2. The immature stage of a waterfowl characterized by downy plumage and dependency on its parents
3. A baby goose that is still developing and covered with soft down feathers

Etymology: "Gooseling" is a plain formation: the noun "goose" with the diminutive suffix "-ling," which English has attached to words for young or small creatures for centuries. The suffix is ancient in English, descending from Old English "-ling," and it turns up in words like "duckling," "fledgling," and "nestling," all naming the young of a creature or something small of its kind. The closely related "gosling" is the more common form and is the same word in practical terms: both mean a young goose. The two formations sit side by side in the language, with "gosling" dominating everyday use and "gooseling" appearing as the less familiar variant that follows the same pattern as "duckling."