I. ˈdək noun
( plural ducks )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English duk, doke, from Old English dūce
Date: before 12th century
1. or plural duck
a. : any of various swimming birds (family Anatidae, the duck family) in which the neck and legs are short, the feet typically webbed, the bill often broad and flat, and the sexes usually different from each other in plumage
b. : the flesh of any of these birds used as food
2. : a female duck — compare drake
3. chiefly British : darling — often used in plural but sing. in constr.
4. : person , creature
[
duck 1a (male): 1 bean, 2 bill, 3 nostril, 4 head, 5 eye, 6 auricular region, 7 neck, 8 cape, 9 shoulder, 10, 11 wing coverts, 12 saddle, 13 secondaries, 14 primaries, 15 rump, 16 drake feathers, 17 tail, 18 tail coverts, 19 down, 20 shank, 21 web, 22 breast, 23 wing front, 24 wing bow
]
II. verb
Etymology: Middle English douken; akin to Old High German tūhhan to dive, Old English dūce duck
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1. : to thrust under water
2. : to lower (as the head) quickly : bow
3. : avoid , evade
duck the issue
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to plunge under the surface of water
b. : to descend suddenly : dip
2.
a. : to lower the head or body suddenly : dodge
b. : bow , bob
3.
a. : to move quickly
b. : to evade a duty, question, or responsibility
• duck·er noun
III. noun
Date: 1554
: an instance of ducking
IV. noun
Etymology: Dutch doek cloth; akin to Old High German tuoh cloth
Date: 1640
1. : a durable closely woven usually cotton fabric
2. plural : light clothes and especially trousers made of duck