waygoose Now dial. or Obs.
[Of obscure etymology; there is no evidence that the second element is to be identified with goose n.]
(See quots. and cf. wayzgoose.)
| 1683 Moxon Mech. Exerc., Printing 361 It is also customary for all the Journey-men to make every Year new Paper Windows..; Because that day they make them, the Master Printer gives them a Way-goose; that is, he makes them a good Feast, and not only entertains them at his own House, but besides, gives them Money to spend at the Ale⁓house or Tavern at Night. These Way-gooses, are always kept about Bartholomew-tide. And till the Master-Printer have given this Way-goose, the Journey-men do not use to Work by Candle Light. 1833 Timperley Songs of the Press 23 Song, Composed for a Printers' Way Goose. 1847 Halliwell, Way-goose, an entertainment given by an apprentice to his fellow-workmen. West. 1857 Wright Dict. Obs. & Prov. Engl., Way-goose, an annual feast among printers. It appears to have been formerly a practice peculiar to Coventry, where it was usual in the large manufactories of ribbons and watches, as well as amongst the silk dyers, at the season of the year when they commenced the use of candles, to have what was called a way-goose, when all the persons of the establishment were accustomed to go a short distance into the country and partake of an entertainment provided for the occasion at the charge of their employers: and this practice uniformly preceded the working by candle-light. 1865 J. Brown J. Leech, etc. (1882) 13 note, Once a year they attend the annual dinner of the firm, at which compositors, readers, printers, machinemen, clerks, etc. dine. This dinner is called the ‘Way Goose’, and is often referred to in Punch. 1886 Cheshire Gloss., Waygoose or wayzgoose, an entertainment given to journeymen workmen. |