sheldrake

American  

[shel-dreyk] / ˈʃɛlˌdreɪk /

noun

sheldrakes, plural sheldrake plural

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

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

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• sheldrake
  plural
• sheldrakes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of sheldrake

1275–1325; Middle English sheldedrake, equivalent to sheld particolored + drake drake ¹

Example Sentences

Or that I can dive down at one side of a Highland loch and come up at the other like a sheldrake?

From Red Cap Tales Stolen from the Treasure Chest of the Wizard of the North by Scott, Walter, Sir

There were several species of land birds; and the aquatic fowl were ducks, teal, and the sheldrake.

From A Voyage to Terra Australis — Volume 1 by Flinders, Matthew

In America the name "sheldrake" is applied erroneously to the fish-eating mergansers, and much confusion has thus arisen, for the two are quite unrelated and belong to perfectly distinct groups.

From Camps and Trails in China A Narrative of Exploration, Adventure, and Sport in Little-Known China by Andrews, Roy Chapman

It is possible that Drake may sometimes represent Anglo-Sax. draca, dragon, rather than the bird, but the latter is unmistakable in Sheldrick, for sheldrake.

From The Romance of Names by Weekley, Ernest

He will find there in proper season the canvas-back, mallard, teal, white-winged coot, sheldrake, etc.

From Nooks and Corners of the New England Coast by Drake, Samuel Adams