English
Michigoose
Michigoose comes from English gander ‘male goose’.
- English1500–presentgander‘male goose’
- Englishearliest quotation 1916Michigoose
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- English1500–presentgander‘male goose’
- Englishearliest quotation 1916Michigoose
Earliest quotation: 1916, Moderator-topics: “Where is the little Michigander or Michigoose who is…”
A blend of Michigander + goose
Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰh₂éns
Proto-Germanic *gans
Proto-West Germanic *gans
Old English gōs
Middle English goos
English goose
The story
Blend of Michigander + goose, because the counterpart of a gander (‘male goose’) is a goose (‘female goose’).
Every English word from English gander
Today it means
noun A woman from Michigan, contrasted with a Michigander (“man from Michigan”).
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / English gander / Michigoose