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shelduck

Pronunciation: /ˈʃɛldʌk/

(male also sheldrake /-dreɪk/)
Definition of shelduck

noun (plural same or shelducks)

  • a large goose-like Old World duck with brightly coloured plumage, typically showing black and white wings in flight.
    • Genus Tadorna, family Anatidae: several species, in particular T. tadorna of Eurasian coasts, with white, greenish-black, and chestnut plumage

Origin:

Middle English (as sheldrake): probably from dialect sheld 'pied' (related to Middle Dutch schillede 'variegated') + duck1. The form shelduck dates from the early 18th century

shelduck in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of shelduck in the US English dictionary