From A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, Eric Partridge,: goose-month - The period of a woman's confinement: coll[oquial]: late C.18-mid-19. Ex gander-month. gander-month - the month after childbirth, when in C.17-early 19 it was held excusable for the husband to err. Coll[oquial]: except in dial[ect] [1st citaation] Dekker, 1636, OED. On checking the OED for gander-month, it says this is an allusion to the gander's aimless wandering while the goose is sitting!! The husband was then referred to as a gander-mooner!! Cheers, Liz in Melbourne

Good Morning - Dare I mention the modern-day expression? Perhaps not;- ) Kind Regards June & Roy (SANHS Member No 1066) http://www.btinternet.com/~roy.cox/index.htm -----Original Message----- From: emagar@hotkey.net.au [mailto:emagar@hotkey.net.au] Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2004 12:07 AM To: OLD-ENGLISH-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [OEL] Goose Month >From A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, Eric Partridge,: goose-month - The period of a woman's confinement: coll[oquial]: late C.18-mid-19. Ex gander-month. gander-month - the month after childbirth, when in C.17-early 19 it was held excusable for the husband to err. Coll[oquial]: except in dial[ect] [1st citaation] Dekker, 1636, OED. On checking the OED for gander-month, it says this is an allusion to the gander's aimless wandering while the goose is sitting!! The husband was then referred to as a gander-mooner!! Cheers, Liz in Melbourne ==== OLD-ENGLISH Mailing List ==== OLD-ENGLISH Web Page http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~oel/