mallard

views updated Jun 11 2018

mal·lard / ˈmalərd/ • n. (pl. same or mallards ) the most common duck (Anas platyrhynchos) of the northern hemisphere and the ancestor of most domestic ducks, the male having a dark green head and white collar.ORIGIN: Middle English: from Old French ‘wild drake,’ from masle ‘male.’

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

mallard

views updated Jun 11 2018

mallard wild drake or duck. XIV. — OF. mallart, (now) malart, prob. for *maslart, f. masle MALE; see -ARD.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

mallard

views updated Jun 08 2018

mallard Large, common, freshwater duck. The male is black, white, brown and grey with a green head, whereas the female is mottled brown with blue wing markings. It feeds from the surface. Length: 63cm (28in). Species Anas platyrhyncho.

World Encyclopedia

mallard

views updated May 09 2018

mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) See ANATIDAE.

A Dictionary of Zoology MICHAEL ALLABY

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