Dictionary.com

duck

1
[ duhk ]
/ dʌk /
Save This Word!
See synonyms for: duck / ducked / ducking on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural ducks, (especially collectively for 1, 2) duck.
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

Idioms about duck

    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.

Origin of duck

1
First recorded before 1000; Middle English duk, doke, Old English dūce “diver, duck”; akin to duck2

Other definitions for duck (2 of 4)

duck2
[ duhk ]
/ dʌk /

verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
noun
an act or instance of ducking.

Origin of duck

2
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English duken, douken; cognate with German tauchen “to dive,” ducken “to duck”

Other definitions for duck (3 of 4)

duck3
[ duhk ]
/ dʌk /

noun
a heavy, plain-weave cotton fabric for tents, clothing, bags, etc., in any of various weights and widths.
ducks, (used with a plural verb) slacks or trousers made of this material.

Origin of duck

3
First recorded in 1630–40; from Dutch doek “cloth”; cognate with German Tuch

Other definitions for duck (4 of 4)

duck4
[ duhk ]
/ dʌk /

noun

Origin of duck

4
An Americanism dating back to 1940–45; by alteration
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use duck in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for duck (1 of 4)

duck1
/ (dʌk) /

noun plural ducks or duck

Word Origin for duck

Old English dūce duck, diver; related to duck ²

British Dictionary definitions for duck (2 of 4)

duck2
/ (dʌk) /

verb
to move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away, esp so as to escape observation or evade a blow
to submerge or plunge suddenly and often briefly under water
(when intr, often foll by out) informal to dodge or escape (a person, duty, etc)
(intr) bridge to play a low card when possessing a higher one rather than try to win a trick
noun
the act or an instance of ducking

Derived forms of duck

ducker, noun

Word Origin for duck

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

British Dictionary definitions for duck (3 of 4)

duck3
/ (dʌk) /

noun
a heavy cotton fabric of plain weave, used for clothing, tents, etcSee also ducks

Word Origin for duck

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

British Dictionary definitions for duck (4 of 4)

duck4
/ (dʌk) /

noun
an amphibious vehicle used in World War II

Word Origin for duck

C20: from code name DUKW
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

Other Idioms and Phrases with duck

duck

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
FEEDBACK