Pronunciation: [ɡˈuːs ɹˈʌmp] (IPA) 
The spelling of the word "goose rump" is straightforward. The first word, "goose," is spelled with a hard G sound, represented in IPA as /ɡuːs/. The second word, "rump," is spelled with a short U sound, represented as /rʌmp/. Together, the two words form a compound word that describes the posterior region of a goose. The proper enunciation of the word "goose rump" should follow this IPA transcription: /ɡuːs rʌmp/.
Goose rump refers to the lower part of a goose's body, specifically the region around its tail. It is the area where the feathers of the bird's back merge with its tail feathers. The term "goose rump" is commonly used in ornithology or bird-related contexts to describe this specific anatomical feature.
The goose rump is characterized by a slight elevation or protuberance that is more pronounced in some goose species than others. It is typically where the tail feathers originate and determines the overall shape and appearance of the bird's posterior. The feathers around the goose rump usually have a similar color and texture to the back feathers, although they may vary slightly depending on the goose species.
The term "goose rump" can also be used metaphorically to describe someone or something that is situated at the very end or bottom of a group or hierarchy. In this context, "goose rump" implies a position of lesser importance or influence. This usage is less common and mainly found in colloquial or informal language.
Overall, in a biological sense, "goose rump" refers to the rear end of a goose, while in a metaphorical sense, it can describe a position of minimal significance within a particular group or system.
The term "goose rump" does not have a specific etymology, as it is a combination of two separate words. However, we can analyze the origins of each word independently.
1. Goose: The word "goose" can be traced back to Old English "gōs", which is believed to have evolved from Proto-Germanic "*gans". This Proto-Germanic word has cognates in other Germanic languages such as German "Gans" and Dutch "gans". It is possible that the word's origin can be linked to the Indo-European root "*h₂hónos", which meant "gander" or "swan".
2. Rump: "Rump" is an English word derived from Old English "ruma", which originally referred to the hindquarters or buttocks of an animal.
