old squaw

American  

Or oldsquaw

noun

1. a sea duck, Clangula hyemalis, of Arctic and subarctic regions.

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old squaw British  

noun

1. Also called: oldwife.  a long-tailed northern sea duck, Clangula hyemalis, having dark wings and a white-and-brown head and body

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Etymology

Origin of old squaw

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

old squaw

The flowers were gone; the birds flocked in great clouds, and among them were eider and old squaw ducks that kept to the rivers and beaches except when they migrated south.

From "Julie of the Wolves" by Jean Craighead George

These and the old squaw add a pleasing variety to our mounted collections, but nothing to our sport.

From Game Birds and Game Fishes of the Pacific Coast by Payne, Harry Thom

"Yes, my son it was," answered the old squaw.

From Hawk Eye by Cory, David

Of the old squaw, Winganameo, who had taught her, Of the young bucks who had danced around the campfires.

From Pocahontas. A Poem by Castleman, Virginia Carter

The old squaw, or long-tailed duck, comes but little into California, though a few are killed each year in Washington and Oregon.

From Game Birds and Game Fishes of the Pacific Coast by Payne, Harry Thom