|
|
|
noun Duck n. 1.(Zool.) Any bird of the subfamily Anatinae, family Anatidae. Note: The genera and species are numerous. They are divided into river ducks and sea ducks. Among the former are the common domestic duck (Anas boschas); the wood duck (Aix sponsa); the beautiful mandarin duck of China (Dendronessa galeriliculata); the Muscovy duck, originally of South America (Cairina moschata). Among the sea ducks are the eider, canvasback, scoter, etc. 2.A sudden inclination of the bead or dropping of the person, resembling the motion of a duck in water. "Here be, without duck or nod, Other trippings to be trod." Bombay duck (Zool.), a fish. See Bummalo. Buffel duck, Spirit duck. See Buffel duck. Duck ant (Zool.), a species of white ant in Jamaica which builds large nests in trees. Duck barnacle. (Zool.) See Goose barnacle. Duck hawk. (Zool.) (a)In the United States: The peregrine falcon. (b)In England: The marsh harrier or moor buzzard. Duck mole (Zool.), a small aquatic mammal of Australia, having webbed feet and a bill resembling that of a duck (Ornithorhynchus anatinus). It belongs the subclass Monotremata and is remarkable for laying eggs like a bird or reptile; called also duckbill, platypus, mallangong, mullingong, tambreet, and water mole. To make ducks and drakes, to throw a flat stone 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, to throw it away heedlessly or squander it foolishly and unprofitably. Lame duck. See under Lame.
adjective Lame adj. (compar. lamer; superl. lamest) 1.(a)Moving with pain or difficulty on account of injury, defect, or temporary obstruction of a function; as, a lame leg, arm, or muscle. (b)To some degree disabled by reason of the imperfect action of a limb; crippled; as, a lame man. "Lame of one leg." "Lame in both his feet." "He fell, and became lame." 2.Hence, hobbling; limping; inefficient; imperfect; as, a lame answer. "A lame endeavor." "O, most lame and impotent conclusion!" Lame duck (a)(Stock Exchange), a person who can not fulfill his contracts. (Cant) (b)An elected politician who is completing a term after having been defeated at an election; also, an office holder who cannot or chooses not to run again for the same office; So called from the presumed lack of political power of one who is soon to be out of office. (c)Any office holder who is serving out a term after a replacement has been selected.
Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48
|
|
|
...