Goslyngs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Young birds of the goose family, covered in downy feathers before they grow their adult plumage
2. The offspring of geese, especially those still small, fluffy and following their parents closely
3. Baby geese that have recently hatched and are still too young to fly or leave their parents' care

Etymology: "Goslyngs" is a Middle English spelling of "goslings," the plural of "gosling." The base word is "goose," from Old English "gōs," and the ending "-ling" was an Old English diminutive used to name young creatures, as in "duckling." Combined, "gosling" simply means a young goose, and the plural form, with its older spelling, shows the same two-part construction.