eider duck

American  

noun

1. any of several large sea ducks of the genus Soamateria and allied genera of the Northern Hemisphere, the females of which yield eiderdown.

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Etymology

Origin of eider duck

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

eider duck

The eider duck and the hair seal are disappearing, but on the word of Medical Missionary Sir Wilfred Thomason Grenfell, the country is infested with mice "of many varieties."

From Time Magazine Archive

And so they sailed out to those islands, which lie far out at sea, and there they caught eider duck in snares, and gathered eggs, and were soon ready to turn homeward again.

From Eskimo Folk-Tales by W. J. Alexander (William John Alexander) Worster

There are more palatable things than bear or eider duck, yet I know many persons to whom snails, olive oil, and paté de fois gras are more repugnant.

From The First Landing on Wrangel Island With Some Remarks on the Northern Inhabitants by Irving C. (Irving Collins) Rosse

She was seated in her igloo sewing a garment of eider duck skins, when three rough-looking Chukches entered and, without ceremony, told her by signs that she must accompany them.

From Triple Spies by Roy J. (Roy Judson) Snell

Their houses were quite small, and the people themselves were dwarfs, who called the eider duck walrus.

From Eskimo Folk-Tales by W. J. Alexander (William John Alexander) Worster