smew

[ smyoo ]

noun

1. a Eurasian duck, Mergus albellus, closely akin to mergansers: the male is white marked with black and gray.

smew

/ smjuː /

noun

1. a merganser, Mergus albellus, of N Europe and Asia, having a male plumage of white with black markings

Word History and Origins

Origin of smew¹

First recorded in 1665–75; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of smew¹

C17: of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

Smew, smū, n. a bird of the family Anatid, in the same genus as the goosander and mergansers.

From Project Gutenberg

The Smew does not visit the land much, and even sleeps upon the water.

From Project Gutenberg

During winter the Smew is gregarious, living in flocks of thirty or forty individuals, mostly immature.

From Project Gutenberg