'goose-producing' is a modern English compound formed from 'goose' + 'producing'. 'goose' originates from Old English 'gōs' (Proto-Germanic *gansaz) meaning 'goose', and 'produce' originates from Latin 'producere' (via Old French/Latin forms), where 'pro-' meant 'forth' and 'ducere' meant 'to lead'.

'goose' changed from Old English 'gōs' (and Proto-Germanic *gansaz) to Middle English forms and eventually the modern English 'goose'. 'produce' came from Latin 'producere' → Old French/Medieval Latin forms (e.g. 'produire') → Middle English 'producen'/'produce', becoming the modern English 'produce'; the compound 'goose-producing' is a straightforward modern compounding of these elements.

Initially, the component words meant 'the bird goose' and 'to bring forth/lead forth'; combined they could literally mean 'producing geese'. Over time a figurative interpretation — 'causing goosebumps' — has arisen in colloquial use, so the compound now commonly carries the sense 'causing goosebumps' in contexts about emotional or sensory effect.