Moss n.
 1. Bot. A cryptogamous plant of a cellular structure, with distinct stem and simple leaves.  The fruit is a small capsule usually opening by an apical lid, and so discharging the spores.  There are many species, collectively termed Musci, growing on the earth, on rocks, and trunks of trees, etc., and a few in running water.
 Note: ☞ The term moss is also popularly applied to many other small cryptogamic plants, particularly lichens, species of which are called tree moss, rock moss, coral moss, etc. Fir moss and club moss are of the genus Lycopodium. See Club moss, under Club, and Lycopodium.
 2. A bog; a morass; a place containing peat; as, the mosses of the Scottish border.
 Note: ☞ Moss is used with participles in the composition of words which need no special explanation; as, moss-capped, moss-clad, moss-covered, moss-grown, etc.
 Black moss. See under Black, and Tillandsia.
 Bog moss. See Sphagnum.
 Feather moss, any moss branched in a feathery manner, esp. several species of the genus Hypnum.
 Florida moss, Long moss, or Spanish moss. See Tillandsia.
 Iceland moss, a lichen. See Iceland Moss.
 Irish moss, a seaweed. See Carrageen.
 Moss agate Min., a variety of agate, containing brown, black, or green mosslike or dendritic markings, due in part to oxide of manganese. Called also Mocha stone.
 Moss animal Zool., a bryozoan.
 Moss berry Bot., the small cranberry (Vaccinium Oxycoccus).
 Moss campion Bot., a kind of mosslike catchfly (Silene acaulis), with mostly purplish flowers, found on the highest mountains of Europe and America, and within the Arctic circle.
 Moss land, land produced accumulation of aquatic plants, forming peat bogs of more or less consistency, as the water is grained off or retained in its pores.
 Moss pink Bot., a plant of the genus Phlox (Phlox subulata), growing in patches on dry rocky hills in the Middle United States, and often cultivated for its handsome flowers. --Gray.
 Moss rose Bot., a variety of rose having a mosslike growth on the stalk and calyx.  It is said to be derived from the Provence rose.
 Moss rush Bot., a rush of the genus Juncus (Juncus squarrosus).
 Scale moss. See Hepatica.


 Goose n.; pl. Geese   Zool.
 1. Any large web-footen bird of the subfamily Anserinæ, and belonging to Anser, Branta, Chen, and several allied genera. See Anseres.
 Note: ☞ The common domestic goose is believed to have been derived from the European graylag goose (Anser anser). The bean goose (A. segetum), the American wild or Canada goose (Branta Canadensis), and the bernicle goose (Branta leucopsis) are well known species. The American white or snow geese and the blue goose belong to the genus Chen. See Bernicle, Emperor goose, under Emperor, Snow goose, Wild goose, Brant.
 2. Any large bird of other related families, resembling the common goose.
 Note: ☞ The Egyptian or fox goose (Alopochen Aegyptiaca) and the African spur-winged geese (Plectropterus) belong to the family Plectropteridæ. The Australian semipalmated goose (Anseranas semipalmata) and Cape Barren goose (Cereopsis Novæ-Hollandiæ) are very different from northern geese, and each is made the type of a distinct family. Both are domesticated in Australia.
 3. A tailor's smoothing iron, so called from its handle, which resembles the neck of a goose.
 4. A silly creature; a simpleton.
 5. A game played with counters on a board divided into compartments, in some of which a goose was depicted.
 The pictures placed for ornament and use,
 The twelve good rules, the royal game of goose.   --Goldsmith.
 A wild goose chase, an attempt to accomplish something impossible or unlikely of attainment.
 Fen goose. See under Fen.
 Goose barnacle Zool., any pedunculated barnacle of the genus Anatifa or Lepas; -- called also duck barnacle. See Barnacle, and Cirripedia.
 Goose cap, a silly person. [Obs.] --Beau. & .
 Goose corn Bot., a coarse kind of rush (Juncus squarrosus).
 Goose feast, Michaelmas. [Colloq. Eng.]
 Goose grass. Bot. (a) A plant of the genus Galium (G. Aparine), a favorite food of geese; -- called also catchweed and cleavers. (b) A species of knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare). (c) The annual spear grass (Poa annua).
 Goose neck, anything, as a rod of iron or a pipe, curved like the neck of a goose; specially Naut., an iron hook connecting a spar with a mast.
 Goose quill, a large feather or quill of a goose; also, a pen made from it.
 Goose skin. See Goose flesh, above.
 Goose tongue Bot., a composite plant (Achillea ptarmica), growing wild in the British islands.
 Sea goose. Zool. See Phalarope.
 Solan goose. Zool. See Gannet.

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