anserine
1 of 2adjective
an·ser·ine
-rə̇n
1
a
: of, relating to, or resembling a goose
anserine characteristics
b
: stupid, silly
ridiculous anserine behavior
2
: of or belonging to the Anseres
the anserine birds
anserine
2 of 2noun
an·ser·ine
-rə̇n
variants or less commonly anserin
-rə̇n
plural -s
: a crystalline base C10H16N4O3 found in the muscles of birds; methyl-carnosine
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Latin anserinus, from anser goose + -inus -ine
Noun
borrowed from German Anserin, from Latin anser "goose" + German -in -in entry 1, -ine entry 2
First Known Use
Adjective
1719, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun
1936, in the meaning defined above