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gadwall

[gad-wawl]
noun, plural gad·walls, (especially collectively) gad·wall.
  1. a grayish-brown wild duck, Anas strepera, found in temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere.
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Origin of gadwall

First recorded in 1660–70; origin uncertain
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for gadwall

Historical Examples

  • In addition we got some grey duck, gadwall, and a number of garganey and pochard.

    Wild Ducks

    W. Coape Oates

  • The gadwall is really a southern duck, coming into the United States to breed.

  • I saw only one Gadwall Duck; these birds are found in abundance on the plains where water and rushes are to be found.

  • We have seen young Gadwall Ducks, and a pair of Geese that had young ones swimming out of our sight.

  • Gadwall, preferring deep waters, are not numerous in the shallow marisma.

    Unexplored Spain

    Abel Chapman

British Dictionary definitions for gadwall

gadwall

noun plural -walls or -wall
  1. a duck, Anas strepera, related to the mallard. The male has a grey body and black tail
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Word Origin

C17: of unknown origin
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