gosling
(ˈgɒzlɪŋ)
Forms: α. 5 geslyng(e, gesseling, 6–9 Sc. gaislin(g, 7–9 dial. gesling, (6 Sc. gaysling, 7 gazeling). β. 4–5 gosselyng, 5–6 gos(e)lyng(e, (6 gozelyng), 6–7 go(o)s(e)ling, 7–9 goslin, (7 gosselin, gooselin, gozeling), 6– gosling.
[Prob. the α form is the earlier: ME. geslyng, a. ON. gǽsling-r (Sw., Da. gäsling), f. gás goose n.: see -ling. The form surviving in standard Eng. was prob. a new formation on ME. gōs goose + -ling; the shortening of the vowel is normal in formations of this kind.]
1. A young goose.
| α c 1425 Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 638/17 Hic ancerulus, geslyng. 1483 Cath. Angl. 154/2 A Geslynge (A. Gesseling), ancerulus. 1549 Compl. Scot. vi. 39 Gayslingis cryit quhilk quhilk. 1653 Urquhart Rabelais i. xii, Whether had you rather ride on a gesling or lead a sow in a Leash? 1868 Atkinson Cleveland Gloss., Gesling. |
| β c 1430 Lydg. Hors, Shepe & G. 191 in Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1866) 21 The goos with her gosselyngis to swyme in the lake. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 204/2 Goselynge, ancerulus. 1465 Mann. & Househ. Exp. (Roxb.) 296 Item, my mastyr paid her for a gander, iiij. bredegese, and v. goslynges,..iiij.s. a 1529 Skelton E. Rummyng 460 Two goslynges, That were noughty froslynges. 1603 Owen Pembrokesh. (1891) 118 Yt is saied that this fish [Salmon] and the gooselinge concurre in growth. 1724 Swift Drapier's Lett. Wks. 1755 V. ii. 146 Nature hath instructed even a brood of goslings to stick together, while the kite is hovering over their heads. 1821 Clare Vill. Minstr. I. 18 Other losses too the dames recite, Of chick, and duck, and gosling gone astray. |
| Proverbs. 1523 Skelton Garl. Laurel 1431 Whan the rayne rayneth and the gose wynkith, Lytill wotith the goslyng what the gose thinkith. 1562 J. Heywood Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 159 He that medleth with all thyng, may shooe the goslyng. 1589 Puttenham Eng. Poesie iii. xxiv. (Arb.) 297 A woman will weepe for pitie to see a gosling goe barefoote. 1590 Greene Neuer too late (1600) 25 As warie as shee was, yet the old Goose could spie the gosling winke. 1862 A. Hislop Prov. Scot. 9 A gude goose may hae an ill gaislin. |
2. fig. A foolish, inexperienced person; one who is young and ‘green’.
| 1607 Shakes. Cor. v. iii. 35 Ile neuer Be such a Gosling to obey instinct. 1631 R. Brathwait Whimzies, Balladmonger 19 Guarded with a janizarie of costermongers, and countrey gooselings. 1650 B. Discolliminium 21 He let them..returne home like Goslings as they went. 1766 Gray Let. to Nicholls 26 Aug., You are a green gosling! I was at the same age (very near) as wise as you. 1818 Scott Br. Lamm. xxv, ‘Did ever ony man see sic a set of green-gaislings?’ 1824 Mrs. Cameron Pink Tippet ii. 30 ‘What a gosling you are, child’, said Mrs. Price, ‘you know nothing’. |
| appositive. 1771 Bachelor (1773) I. 75 The sentiments of such a gosling critic would not be worth notice. 1780 Cowper Progr. Err. 379 Surprised at all they meet, the gosling pair, With awkward gait, stretched neck, and silly stare Discover huge cathedrals built with stone. |
3. The figure of a gosling.
| a 1535 More Wks. 1224 Make goselinges in the ashes with a sticke as children do. |
4. A catkin or blossom on a tree (see
quots.).
| 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), Gosling,..a kind of Substance that grows upon a Nut-tree. 1721 in Bailey. 1736 Ainsworth Lat. Dict. 1, Goslin on a nut tree, nucamentum. 1766 Pennant Brit. Zool. (1768) II. 304 Its nest..lined..with the goslin or cotton of the sallow. 1847–78 Halliwell, Goslings, the blossoms of the willow. |
5. attrib. and
Comb., as
gosling-colour,
gosling-green (
n. and a.), a pale yellowish green;
gosling-grass,
-weed, local names for
Galium Aparine,
goose-grass 2 (Britten & Holland).
| 1552 Huloet, Goslynge weade herbe, Rueba minor. 1600 Q. Eliz. Wardr. in Nichols Progr. Q. Eliz. (1823) III. 509 Item, one cloak and a saufegarde of gozelinge-colour taphata. 1756 C. Lucas Ess. Waters I. 102 It turns to a pale yellow or gosling green with alcalies. 1766 Goldsm. Vic. W. xii, His waistcoat was of a gosling green. 1807 P. Gass Jrnl. 146 We found the southwest branch..of a goslin-green colour. 1835 Longfellow Outre-Mer (1851) 285 The nice little man in gosling-green. |