greylag
/ˈɡreɪlaɡ
/(also greylag goose)
noun
A large goose with mainly grey plumage, which is native to Eurasia and is the ancestor of the domestic goose.
- Anser anser, family Anatidae.
- The barking of geese broke the silence, greylags and Canada share open water with oystercatchers.
- The Central Science Laboratory is also collaborating in another project with the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust which is exploring whether greylags seen in Britain are migrants from Greenland or belong to a population resident in the UK.
Origin
Early 18th century: probably from grey + dialect lag 'goose', of unknown origin.