v. & n.
v. 1 intr. & tr. plunge, dive, or dip under water and emerge (ducked him in the pond). 2 intr. & tr. bend (the head or the body) quickly to avoid a blow or being seen, or as a bow or curtsy; bob (ducked out of sight; ducked his head under the beam). 3 tr. & intr. colloq. avoid or dodge; withdraw (from) (ducked out of the engagement; ducked the meeting). 4 intr. Bridge lose a trick deliberately by playing a low card.
n. 1 a quick dip or swim. 2 a quick lowering of the head etc. ducking-stool hist. a chair fastened to the end of a pole, which could be plunged into a pond, used formerly for ducking scolds etc. ducker n.
[ OE ducan (unrecorded) f. Gmc ]