goosander

English

Etymology

Blend of goose + gander. The oldest known use is by Drayton (1622).

Noun

goosander (plural goosanders)

  1. A merganser, Mergus merganser, of the northern hemisphere. They eat fish and are common on lakes and rivers.
    • 1622, Michael Drayton, Poly-Olbion, song 25 p. 106:
      As they above the rest were Lords of Earth and Ayre.
      The Gossander with them, my goodly Fennes doe show
      His head as Ebon blacke, the rest as white as Snow,

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Translations

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