sheldrake

[ shel-dreyk ]

/ ˈʃɛlˌdreɪk /

noun, plural shel·drakes, (especially collectively) shel·drake.

any of several Old World ducks of the genus Tadorna, certain species of which have highly variegated plumage.

any of various other ducks, especially the goosander or merganser.

Nearby words

Origin of sheldrake

1275–1325; Middle English sheldedrake, equivalent to sheld particolored + drake drake¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for sheldrake

It isn't reasonable of Sheldrake to expect me to do this; upon my soul it isn't!
London's Heart|B. L. (Benjamin Leopold) Farjeon
The most common birds up these tidal rivers are the sheldrake.
Cornwall|G. E. Mitton
Am I not a good girl, Alf, for behaving so well to Mr. Sheldrake?
London's Heart|B. L. (Benjamin Leopold) Farjeon
"But Mr. Sheldrake knew," remarked Lizzie, with a sharp glance in the direction of that gentleman.
London's Heart|B. L. (Benjamin Leopold) Farjeon

The only persons who ever entered it were Mr. Musgrave and Mr. Sheldrake.
London's Heart|B. L. (Benjamin Leopold) Farjeon

Word Origin and History for sheldrake

sheldrake

early 14c., from sheld- "variegated" + drake "male duck." First element cognate with Middle Dutch schillede "separated, variegated," West Flemish schilde, from schillen (Dutch verschillen "to make different"), from Proto-Germanic *skeli-, from PIE root *(s)kel- (1) "to cut" (see scale (n.1)). This is the origin considered most likely, though English sheld by itself is a dialect word attested only from c.1500. OED finds derivation from shield (n.), on resemblance to the patterns on shields, "improbable."