Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Duck?

\Duck\ (d[u^]k), n. [Cf. Dan. dukke, Sw. docka, OHG. doccha, G. docke. Cf. {Doxy}.] A pet; a darling. --Shak.
\Duck\, n. [D. doek cloth, canvas, or Icel. d[=u]kr cloth; akin to OHG. tuoh, G. tuch, Sw. duk, Dan. dug.] 1. A linen (or sometimes cotton) fabric, finer and lighter than canvas, -- used for the lighter sails of vessels, the sacking of beds, and sometimes for men's clothing. 2. (Naut.) pl. The light clothes worn by sailors in hot climates. [Colloq.]
\Duck\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Ducked}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Ducking}.] [OE. duken, douken, to dive; akin to D. duiken, OHG. t?hhan, MHG. tucken, t["u]cken, t?chen, G. tuchen. Cf. 5th {Duck}.] 1. To thrust or plunge under water or other liquid and suddenly withdraw. Adams, after ducking the squire twice or thrice, leaped out of the tub. --Fielding. 2. To plunge the head of under water, immediately withdrawing it; as, duck the boy. 3. To bow; to bob down; to move quickly with a downward motion. `` Will duck his head aside.'' --Swift.
\Duck\ (d[u^]k), v. i. 1. To go under the surface of water and immediately reappear; to dive; to plunge the head in water or other liquid; to dip. In Tiber ducking thrice by break of day. --Dryden. 2. To drop the head or person suddenly; to bow. The learned pate Ducks to the golden fool. --Shak.
\Duck\, n. [OE. duke, doke. See {Duck}, v. t. ] 1. (Zool.) Any bird of the subfamily {Anatin[ae]}, family {Anatid[ae]}. Note: The genera and species are numerous. They are divided into {river ducks} and {sea ducks}. Among the former are the common domestic duck ({Anas boschas}); the wood duck ({Aix sponsa}); the beautiful mandarin duck of China ({Dendronessa galeriliculata}); the Muscovy duck, originally of South America ({Cairina moschata}). Among the sea ducks are the eider, canvasback, scoter, etc. 2. A sudden inclination of the bead or dropping of the person, resembling the motion of a duck in water. Here be, without duck or nod, Other trippings to be trod. --Milton. {Bombay duck} (Zo["o]l.), a fish. See {Bummalo}. {Buffel duck}, or {Spirit duck}. See {Buffel duck}. {Duck ant} (Zo["o]l.), a species of white ant in Jamaica which builds large nests in trees. {Duck barnacle}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Goose barnacle}. {Duck hawk}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) In the United States: The peregrine falcon. (b) In England: The marsh harrier or moor buzzard. {Duck mole} (Zo["o]l.), a small aquatic mammal of Australia, having webbed feet and a bill resembling that of a duck ({Ornithorhynchus anatinus}). It belongs the subclass Monotremata and is remarkable for laying eggs like a bird or reptile; -- called also {duckbill}, {platypus}, {mallangong}, {mullingong}, {tambreet}, and {water mole}. {To make ducks and drakes}, to throw a flat stone obliquely, so as to make it rebound repeatedly from the surface of the water, raising a succession of jets