gooseflesh
|goose-flesh|
/ˈɡuːsfleʃ/
skin raised like a plucked goose
Etymology
'gooseflesh' originates from Old English, specifically the words 'gōs' meaning 'goose' and 'flæsc' meaning 'flesh'.
'gooseflesh' changed from Old English 'gōsflæsc' into Middle English forms (such as 'goosflesch'/'gosflesch') and eventually became the modern English word 'gooseflesh'.
Initially it could refer literally to the flesh of a goose, but over time it evolved into a figurative term describing skin that resembles the plucked or bumpy appearance of a goose's skin; today it primarily means 'skin with raised bumps caused by cold, fear, or strong emotion'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a condition in which the skin becomes covered with small raised bumps, usually caused by cold, fear, or strong emotion; same as 'goosebumps'.
The sudden chill gave her gooseflesh.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 2
(archaic/literal) The flesh of a goose (rarely used in this literal sense).
In older texts the word occasionally referred simply to gooseflesh as food.
Last updated: 2026/01/05 15:11