A survival, in the South, of the brutal old Kelso custom of “plucking at a goose”: as to which see Brand’s ‘Popular Antiquities’ (1849), iii. 40.
1834. Cock-fights, shooting-matches, gander-pullings, and horse-races had become more frequent in the mountains, and, as is usual in such cases, there was also abundance of drinking and gaming.—H. J. Nott, ‘Novellettes of a Traveller,’ ii. 162 (N.Y.).
1835. “A Gander-pulling” is inimitably described by A. B. Longstreet in ‘Georgia Scenes,’ p. 118.
1843. Haliburton. (N.E.D.)
1852. A gander-pulling is described in ‘As Good as a Comedy,’ pp. 114–21 (Phila.).
1856. John, the oldest son, adopted the ancient and honourable profession of a loafer. To lie idle in the sun in front of some small grog-shop, to attend horse-races, cock-fights, and gander-pullings, to flaunt out occasionally in a new waistcoat bought with money which came nobody knew how, were pleasures to him all-satisfactory.—H. B. Stowe, ‘Dred,’ chap. viii.
