mallard

American  

[mal-erd] / ˈmæl ərd /

noun

plural

mallards,

plural

mallard

1. a common, almost cosmopolitan, wild duck, Anas platyrhynchos, from which the domestic ducks are descended.

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mallard British  

/ ˈmælɑːd /

noun

1. a duck, Anas platyrhynchos, common over most of the N hemisphere, the male of which has a dark green head and reddish-brown breast: the ancestor of all domestic breeds of duck

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Etymology

Origin of mallard

1275–1325; Middle English < Middle French, Old French mallart mallard drake, drake; male, -ard

Compare meaning

How does mallard compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Rouen vs. mallard

Example Sentences

In Washington, it’s mallards — the most commonly observed species worldwide.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s to the Moscow mallard and her ducklings I head to find out what Russians think of America and of the US election.

From BBC

Traffic came to a halt near the South Everett Park & Ride due to a mother mallard and eight ducklings crossing the southbound lanes.

From Seattle Times

Third place went to Illumination and Universal’s “Migration,” a PG-rated animated adventure about a family of mallards traveling South.

From Seattle Times

Third place went to Illumination and Universal’s “Migration,” a PG-rated animated adventure about a family of mallards traveling South.

From Washington Times