duck

¹

[duhk]

noun

plural

ducks, duck 

1. any of numerous wild or domesticated web-footed swimming birds of the family Anatidae, especially of the genus Anas and allied genera, characterized by abroad, flat bill, short legs, and depressed body.

2. the female of this bird, as distinguished from the male.

3. the flesh of this bird, eaten as food.

4. Informal.,  person; individual.

   He's the queer old duck with the shaved head and walrus mustache.

5. a playing marble, especially one that is not used as a shooter.

6. (used with a singular verb),  ducks, ducky.

7. Cricket Slang.

   1. failure of a batsman to score.

      to be out for a duck.

   2. a player's score of zero.

      to be bowled for a duck.

duck

²

[duhk]

verb (used without object)

1. to stoop or bend suddenly; bob.

   Synonyms: dodge, bow

2. to avoid or evade a blow, unpleasant task, etc.; dodge.

3. to plunge the whole body or the head momentarily under water.

   Synonyms: souse, dip, dive

4. Cards Informal.,  to play a card lower than the card led.

verb (used with object)

1. to lower suddenly.

   Duck your head going through that low doorway.

2. to avoid or evade (a blow, unpleasant task, etc.); dodge: to duck an embarrassing question.

   to duck a hard right;

   to duck an embarrassing question.

3. to plunge or dip in water momentarily.

4. Cards Informal.,  to play a card lower than (the card led).

noun

1. an act or instance of ducking.

duck

³

[duhk]

noun

1. a heavy, plain-weave cotton fabric for tents, clothing, bags, etc., in any of various weights and widths.

2. (used with a plural verb),  ducks, slacks or trousers made of this material.

duck

⁴

[duhk]

noun

1. DUKW.

duck

¹

/ dʌk /

noun

1. any of various small aquatic birds of the family Anatidae, typically having short legs, webbed feet, and a broad blunt bill: order Anseriformes

2. the flesh of this bird, used as food

3. the female of such a bird, as opposed to the male (drake)

4. any other bird of the family Anatidae, including geese, and swans

5. Also: ducks. informal,  dear or darling: used as a term of endearment or of general address See also ducky

6. informal,  a person, esp one regarded as odd or endearing

7. cricket a score of nothing by a batsman

8. informal,  without effect

9. informal,  to become adept at or attracted to something very quickly

duck

²

/ dʌk /

verb

1. to move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away, esp so as to escape observation or evade a blow

2. to submerge or plunge suddenly and often briefly under water

3. informal,  to dodge or escape (a person, duty, etc)

4. (intr) bridge to play a low card when possessing a higher one rather than try to win a trick

noun

1. the act or an instance of ducking

duck

³

/ dʌk /

noun

1. a heavy cotton fabric of plain weave, used for clothing, tents, etc See also ducks

duck

⁴

/ dʌk /

noun

1. an amphibious vehicle used in World War II

Other Word Forms

• ducker noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of duck¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English duk, doke, Old English dūce “diver, duck”; akin to duck ²

Origin of duck²

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English duken, douken; cognate with German tauchen “to dive,” ducken “to duck”

Origin of duck³

First recorded in 1630–40; from Dutch doek “cloth”; cognate with German Tuch

Origin of duck⁴

An Americanism dating back to 1940–45; by alteration

Word History and Origins

Origin of duck¹

Old English dūce duck, diver; related to _duck ²

Origin of duck²

C14: related to Old High German tūhhan to dive, Middle Dutch dūken

Origin of duck³

C17: from Middle Dutch doek; related to Old High German tuoh cloth

Origin of duck⁴

C20: from code name DUKW

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. water off a duck's back, something that has little or no effect.

   Our criticisms of his talk rolled off him like water off a duck's back.

More idioms and phrases containing duck

• dead duck
• get one's ducks in a row
• lame duck
• like water off a duck's back
• sitting duck
• take to (like a duck to water)
• ugly duckling

Example Sentences

“Apples float, and as the girls’ potential sweethearts ducked to catch the fruit with their teeth, future couplings were determined — or foretold.”

Read more on Salon

South Africa lost opener Tazmin Brits for her third duck of the tournament in the second over but came out swinging after the rain delay.

Read more on BBC

A few of her favorite things: A candlestick telephone, hats and ceramic ducks.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Across cities like New York and London, that tradition has evolved into a modern kind of “rustic luxe”: homey duck confit and steak au poivre served under soft lighting and mismatched furniture.

Read more on Salon

What if you fly into a flock of ducks and lose a prop due to birdstrike—or a shot from an irate duck hunter?

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bend 
• bow 
• crouch 
• dive 
• dodge 
• elude 
• escape 
• evade 
• shun 
• sidestep