sheldrake

[shel-dreyk]

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.

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

Historical Examples of sheldrake

The down in the nest of the Sheldrake is a beautiful lavender-gray.
British Sea Birds
Charles Dixon
The breeding season of the Sheldrake begins in April or May.
British Sea Birds
Charles Dixon
Mr. Sheldrake coughed, and the policeman coughed in sympathy.
London's Heart
B. L. (Benjamin Leopold) Farjeon
Ready of speech and smooth of manner was Mr. Sheldrake as he addressed Lily.
London's Heart
B. L. (Benjamin Leopold) Farjeon
She did not see him; all her attention was fixed upon Mr. Sheldrake's words.
London's Heart
B. L. (Benjamin Leopold) Farjeon

Word Origin and History for 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."