drake

¹ American  

[dreyk] / dreɪk /

noun

1. a male duck.

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drake ² American  

[dreyk] / dreɪk /

noun

1. a small cannon, used especially in the 17th and 18th centuries.

2. drake fly.

3. Archaic. a dragon.

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Drake ³ American  

[dreyk] / dreɪk /

noun

1. Sir Francis, c1540–96, English admiral and buccaneer: sailed around the world 1577–80.

2. Joseph Rodman 1795–1820, U.S. poet.

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drake ¹ British  

/ dreɪk /

noun

1. angling an artificial fly resembling a mayfly

2. history a small cannon

3. an obsolete word for dragon

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Drake ² British  

/ dreɪk /

noun

1. Sir Francis. ?1540–96, English navigator and buccaneer, the first Englishman to sail around the world (1577–80). He commanded a fleet against the Spanish Armada (1588) and contributed greatly to its defeat

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drake ³ British  

/ dreɪk /

noun

1. the male of any duck

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Etymology

Origin of drake¹

1250–1300; Middle English; cognate with Low German drake, dialectal German drache; compare Old High German antrahho, anutrehho male duck

Origin of drake²

before 900; Middle English; Old English draca < Latin dracō dragon

Example Sentences

When the sun hit the water and green drake mayflies began dancing on the surface, a fish lower in the pool began feeding on top.

From Washington Post • Aug. 13, 2022

“For now, cover her back up,” drake told Galen warmly.

From New York Times • Jan. 12, 2022

Thankfully for me drake isn't just a rapper.

From Time • Jul. 23, 2015

“Stop comparing drake to me too.... He don't write his own raps! That's why he ain't tweet my album because we found out!”

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 22, 2015

Whil'st the goose soe goodly white, And the drake, yeeld noe delight, Though his wings' conceited hewe Paint each feather, as if new.

From The Complete Works of Richard Crashaw, Volume I (of 2) by Crashaw, Richard