duck Definition

duck¹
noun

1. Any wild or domesticated water bird related to the swans and geese, with short legs, webbed feet, and a large flattened beak, the females generally having a dull plumage, but the males often brightly coloured.
2. The flesh of this bird used as food.
3. The female of such a bird, as opposed to the male drake.
4a. colloq
A likeable person;
4b. colloq
A term of endearment or (loosely) of address.
Form: ducks (also)
5. cricket.
A batsman's score of zero.

Idiom: break one's duck

colloq
To enjoy one's first success after several failures.

To make one's first run.

Idiom: like water off a duck's back

colloq
Having no effect at all.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon duce.

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duck²
verb ducked, ducking

intr
1. To lower the head or body suddenly, especially to avoid notice or a blow.
2. To push someone or something briefly under water.

Thesaurus: immerse, submerge, dunk, wet, douse, dive, plunge, dip.

Etymology: 13c.

Phrasal Verb: duck out of something

To avoid something unpleasant or unwelcome.

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duck³
noun

1. Hard-wearing cotton fabric, used for tents, sails, etc.

Etymology: 17c: from Dutch doek linen cloth.