teal

[teel]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR teal ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural teals, (especially collectively) teal for 1.

any of several species of small dabbling ducks, of worldwide distribution, usually traveling in tight flocks and frequenting ponds and marshes.

Also called teal blue. a medium to dark greenish blue.

Nearby words

Origin of teal

1275–1325; Middle English tele; akin to Dutch taling, Middle Low German telink

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

Examples from the Web for teal

And she even matched her manicure to her outfit, flashing nails that were a shade of teal.
Michelle Obama at DNC: Tracy Reese Dress With J. Crew Heels (PHOTOS)|Isabel Wilkinson|September 5, 2012|DAILY BEAST
One sweater, in particular, a short-sleeve, shrunken crewneck, was charmingly marked by teardrop-shaped dollops of teal blue.
Milan’s Day-Glo Exuberance|Robin Givhan|September 26, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Who is the best friend of every fat guy with a tan who says, “The teal nut-sling really takes it to a whole new level?”
Ban the Speedo!|Sean Macaulay|October 5, 2009|DAILY BEAST
"A flock of teal," thought I, remembering the exploit at Rory Macgregor's.
The Cruise of the Midge (Vol. II of 2)|Michael Scott

At times, when high in air, they might be mistaken for teal.
Wild Spain (Espaa agreste)|Abel Chapman
An anecdote is related of how a country lad having fallen in with a brood of teal drove them before him to a lodge.
Poachers and Poaching|John Watson
Teal resumed his remarks with the gusto of a fellow-conspirator.
A Man of Means|P. G. Wodehouse and C. H. Bovill
His machine-finish smile indicated an enormous lack of interest in young men in Teal bugs.
Free Air|Sinclair Lewis

British Dictionary definitions for teal

teal

noun plural teals or teal

any of various small ducks, such as the Eurasian Anas crecca (common teal) that are related to the mallard and frequent ponds, lakes, and marshes

a greenish-blue colour

Word Origin for teal

C14: related to Middle Low German tēlink, Middle Dutch tēling

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for teal

teal

"small freshwater duck," early 14c., probably from an unrecorded Old English word cognate with Middle Dutch teling "teal," Middle Low German telink, from West Germanic *taili. As the name of a shade of dark greenish-blue like the color patterns on the fowl's head and wings, it is attested from 1923.