Bernicle

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Bernicle \Ber"ni*cle\, n. [OE. bernak, bernacle; cf. OF. bernac;
     prob. fr. LL. bernacula for hibernicula, bernicula, fr.
     Hibernia; the birds coming from Hibernia or Ireland. Cf. 1st
     {Barnacle}.]
     A bernicle goose. [Written also {barnacle}.]
     [1913 Webster]


  
     {Bernicle goose} (Zool.), a goose ({Branta leucopsis}), of
        Arctic Europe and America. It was formerly believed that
        it hatched from the cirripeds of the sea ({Lepas}), which
        were, therefore, called barnacles, goose barnacles, or
        Anatifers. The name is also applied to other related
        species. See {Anatifa} and {Cirripedia}.
        [1913 Webster]