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The sheldrake. [Written also shellduck.]

The common European sheldrake. [Prov. Eng.]

The American eider duck. [Local, U.S.]

A West Indian duck, sometimes domesticated.

A genus of water fowls, of the order Anseres, including certain species of fresh-water ducks.

Producing ducks; -- applied to Anatifæ, under the absurd notion of their turning into ducks or geese. See Barnacle.

Of or pertaining to the ducks; ducklike.

A Linnæan order of aquatic birds swimming by means of webbed feet, as the duck, or of lobed feet, as the grebe. In this order were included the geese, ducks, auks, divers, gulls, petrels, etc.

A division of birds including the geese, ducks, and closely allied forms.

Exciting appetite; as, appetizing food. The appearance of the wild ducks is very appetizing. Sir W. Scott.

its shape or use suggests an apron; as, (a) The fat skin covering the belly of a goose or duck. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

A European duck (Anas tadorna). See Sheldrake.

The scaup duck.

A duck of the genus Fuligula. Two American species (F. marila and F. affinis) are common. See Scaup duck.

A pair; a couple; as, a brace of ducks; now rarely applied to persons, except familiarly or with some contempt. "A brace of greyhounds." Shak. He is said to have shot . . . fifty brace of pheasants. Addison. A brace of brethren, both bishops, both eminent for learning and religion, now appeared in the church. Fuller. B…

A wild duck (Aythya, or Fuligula, marila), which appears in large numbers on the eastern coast of the United States, in autumn; - - called also bluebill, blackhead, raft duck, and scaup duck. See Scaup duck.

a hen doth gather her brood under her wings. Luke xiii. 34. A hen followed by a brood of ducks. Spectator.

The buffel duck. See Buffel duck.

all marine Asiatic fish (Saurus ophidon) used in India as a relish; -- called also Bombay duck.

The buffel duck.