Dŭck1, n.
n. [D. doek, O. Sax. dok, Sw. duk; Dan. duug, Icel. dúkr, O. H. Ger. duoh, tuoh, toh, M. H. Ger. tuoch, N. H. Ger. tuch, cloth.] A species of coarse cloth or light canvas, used for small sails, sacking of beds, &c.
5 entries under this word
Duck
Dŭck2, n.
n. [From the verb to duck, q. v.] 1. (Ornith.) A water-fowl of the family Anatidæ and order Anseres. The fresh-water ducks are of the sub-family Anatidæ, and the sea-ducks of the sub-family Fuligulinæ. Of the former, the common domestic duck is Anas boschas; the wood-duck, A. sponsa; the beautiful mandarin-duck of China, A. galericulata; the Muscovy duck, originally of South America, A. moschata. Of the sea-ducks, the canvas-back is Aythya vallisneria; the eider-duck, Somateria mollissima. 2. An inclination of the head, resembling the motion of a duck in water. “Ducks and nods.” Milton. To make ducks and drakes, to throw a flat stone, tile, or the like, obliquely, so as to make it rebound repeatedly from the surface of the water, raising a succession of jets; hence, to play at ducks and drakes, with property, is to squander it foolishly and unprofitably.—Lame duck. See Lame.
Dück3, n.
n. [Dan. dukke, Ger. docke, doll, baby, or puppet. See DOXY.] A pet; a darling. Shak.
Dŭck4, v. t.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. DUCKED (dŭkt); p. pr. & sb. n. DUCKING.] [N. H. Ger. ducken, tauchen, M. H. Ger. tucken, tücken, tächen, O. H. Ger. tâhhan, D. duiken, to stoop, dive, plunge, Prov. Eng. donk.
Sense 1. To dip or plunge in water and suddenly withdraw; as, to duck a seaman. It differs from dive, which signifies to plunge one's self.
Sense 2. To plunge the head of in water, immediately withdrawing it; as, duck the boy.
Sense 3. To bow, stoop, or nod. Swift.
Dŭck5, v. i.
v. i. 1. To go under the surface of water and immediately return; to plunge the head in water or other liquid; to dip.
In Tiber ducking thrice by break of day. Dryden.
Sense 2. To drop the head or person suddenly; to bow; to cringe.
Duck with French nods and apish courtesy. Shak.