gooseneck

American  

[goos-nek] / ˈgusˌnɛk /

noun

1. a curved object resembling the neck of a goose, often of flexible construction, as in the shaft of a gooseneck lamp.

2. Nautical. a curved piece at the foot of a boom, attached to a mast by a vertical pivot and itself having a horizontal pivot so that the boom can be pointed in a wide angle vertically or horizontally.

3. Carpentry. a vertical continuation of the handrail of a flight of stairs, terminating in a short horizontal part on the top of a newel post.

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gooseneck British  

/ ˈɡuːsˌnɛk /

noun

1. nautical a pivot between the forward end of a boom and a mast, to allow the boom to swing freely

2. something in the form of a neck of a goose

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Other Word Forms

• goosenecked adjective

Etymology

Origin of gooseneck

First recorded in 1680–90; goose + neck

Example Sentences

In some cases, Rizk said he has recommended a less painful, low-tech fix: cellphone holders, metal contraptions that have a flexible gooseneck that holds the mobile device up to eye level.

From The Wall Street Journal

Over the past 45 years, officials have found only five lead goosenecks.

From Seattle Times

I have a homework desk with a gooseneck lamp; a collection of cute, pastel-colored pens from Japan; and a tiny potted cactus.

From Literature

Standing at the helm of the 100-year-old “rose engine,” he peered through a microscope at a small, square slab of German silver illuminated by a gooseneck lamp.

From Los Angeles Times

The organisms include anemones and pelagic gooseneck barnacles.

From Washington Times