Question

Identify the feminine form of the noun: goat

a)Lady goat
b)Goatess
c)Nanny
d)She-goat

Answer 1

Hint: Goat is a hardy domesticated ruminant animal, kept for milk and meat. Male goats are called bucks or billies.

Complete step-by-step answer:

Option a ‘lady goat’ is not the feminine form of the noun: goat. Lady and goat are two separate words and lady is a polite way of addressing a woman. Thus, option ‘a’ is incorrect.

Option b ‘goatess’ is again incorrect as there is no such word in the English language.

Option d ‘she-goat’ is an old English word which was used for female goats but it is not used at present. It is a synonym of the feminine form of the noun: goat. She-goat also refers to a composite creature from the Greek mythology with the body and head of a lion, a goat's head rising from its back, and a serpent's tail. Therefore, option ‘d’ is not the correct answer.

Option c “nanny” is the correct feminine form of the noun: goat. A female goat is called a doe or a nanny. Thus, option ‘c’ is the correct answer.


Note: ‘She-goat’ is a synonym for the feminine noun “nanny” but nanny is more appropriate, it being a gender specific word.