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canvasback

[kan-vuh s-bak]
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noun, plural can·vas·backs, (especially collectively) can·vas·back.
  1. a North American wild duck, Aythya valisineria, the male of which has a whitish back and a reddish-brown head and neck.

Origin of canvasback

An Americanism dating back to 1595–1605; after the canvaslike color of its back
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for canvasback

Historical Examples

  • Canvasback ducks are considered the finest of the water-fowls for the table.

    The Wonder Book of Knowledge

    Various

  • The canvasback duck is so called from the appearance of the feathers on the back.

  • The Redhead closely resembles in flavor the Canvasback, and often is mistaken for it.

  • He is a twin brother of the Canvasback, and quite as good to eat.

    Citizen Bird

    Mabel Osgood Wright and Elliott Coues

  • The red-head, both species of the scaups, the canvasback and the ruddy are commonly found on the fresh-waters.

British Dictionary definitions for canvasback

canvasback

noun plural -backs or -back
  1. a North American diving duck, Aythyra valisineria, the male of which has a white body and reddish-brown head
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012