ˈgoose-step, n. Mil.
a. An elementary drill in which the recruit is taught to balance his body on either leg alternately, and swing the other backwards and forwards. b. A balance step, practised esp. by various armies in marching on ceremonial parades, in which the legs are alternately advanced without bending the knees.
| 1806 Sir R. Wilson Jrnl. 11 Feb., The balance or goose-step introduced for their practice excites a fever of disgust. 1825 D. L. Richardson Sonnets 32 Oft with aching bones, I marched the goose-step, cursing Serjeant Jones. 1887 T. A. Trollope What I remember II. ix. 164 You must have superintended a course of instruction in the goose-step in your day. 1916 H. G. Wells Mr. Britling ii. i. 204 The small boys had discovered the goose-step. Ibid., They tried it them⁓selves, and then set out upon a goose-step propaganda. 1922 C. E. Montague Disenchantment xiii. 182 Doing the Prussianist goose-step by way of pas de triomphe. 1941 ‘G. Orwell’ Lion & Unicorn i. ii. 21 The goose-step..is one of the most horrible sights in the world. 1971 Daily Tel. 16 Oct. 3/6 As columns approached the Shah they broke into a goose-step. |
Hence ˈgoose-step v. intr., to practise this drill; also occas. trans. Hence ˈgoose-stepping vbl. n. and ppl. a.
| 1879 Baring-Gould Germany I. 297 He sees them [recruits] posturing, goose-stepping, tumbling [etc.]. 1935 H. R. L. Sheppard We say No viii. 97 Hitler's goose-stepping conscripts. 1938 Reader's Digest Jan. 110/1 Chilean citizens of German blood are already goose⁓stepped by Nazi missionaries. 1941 Koestler Scum of Earth 79 A helpless, bleeding prey to be stamped on by the boots of the goose-stepping conqueror. 1951 M. McLuhan Mech. Bride 122/2 The remorseless goose⁓stepping of the glamorous female warrior. 1964 C. Chaplin Autobiogr. xxv. 433 Greed has poisoned men's souls.., has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. 1967 Listener 16 Mar. 370/3 The Nazi jackboot goose⁓stepping on the boulevards got his goat. 1970 Daily Tel. 16 June 11/7 Women as well as men goose-step around the stage to the tat-tat of drums. Ibid. 10 Dec. 4/5 President Nyerere reviewed goose-stepping troops of Tanzania's army yesterday. |