short for gray lag goose: from its color and its late migration
graylag in American English
(ˈɡreiˌlæɡ)
noun
a common, gray, wild goose, Anser anser, of Europe, that is the ancestor of most breeds of domestic goose
Also: greylag
Word origin
[1705–15; gray1 + lag1 (with reference to its habit of remaining longer in England before migrating thanother species of the genus)]This word is first recorded in the period 1705–15. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: condominium, encore, inertia, jackknife, zigzag
Examples of 'graylag' in a sentence
graylag
Red kite, raven and graylag goose all increased their range and garden birds, including song thrush, have also done well.