noun

gosling

GOZ-lihng

Gosling (noun) means a young goose. Example: “The goslings followed their mother single file to the pond.”

noun

A young goose.

"The goslings followed their mother single file to the pond."

An inexperienced, naive young person.

"Fresh out of school, he was still a bit of a gosling in the newsroom."

How to use gosling

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA baby goose, or figuratively, someone young and inexperienced.

Common pairings

a fluffy gosling green as a gosling

Word forms

goslings plural, Goslings plural

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Fill the gap

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The _____ followed their mother single file to the pond.

Etymology

From Old Norse gæsling, combining "goose" with the diminutive ending "-ling," the same pattern seen in words like "duckling."

Origin: Old Norse

Frequently asked questions

What does “gosling” mean?

The word “gosling” means a young goose. In plain terms, a baby goose, or figuratively, someone young and inexperienced.

How do you pronounce “gosling”?

“Gosling” is pronounced GOZ-lihng (/ˈɡɑzlɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “gosling” in a sentence?

Here is “gosling” used in a sentence: “The goslings followed their mother single file to the pond.”

What part of speech is “gosling”?

“Gosling” is a noun.

Where does the word “gosling” come from?

The word “gosling” comes from Old Norse. From Old Norse gæsling, combining "goose" with the diminutive ending "-ling," the same pattern seen in words like "duckling.".

How many meanings does “gosling” have?

“Gosling” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a young goose.

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Vocabulary lists that include gosling:

Words with old Norse origins