Greylag

/ˈɡreɪlæɡ/ noun

Definition

A large wild goose with grey and white plumage that is native to Europe and Asia and is the ancestor of domestic geese.

Etymology

From Old English 'grey' (the color) and 'lag' (possibly from Old Norse 'leggja' meaning to lay or remain behind), referring to the bird that lags behind during migration.

Kelly Says

Greylags are the wild ancestors of all domestic geese—they're like the great-great-grandparents of the geese you might see on a farm or in a park, and they still migrate to the same places their domesticated descendants' ancestors came from.

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