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mallard Definition

mal·lard (malərd)

noun pl. -·lards or -·lard

the common wild duck (Anas platyrhynchos), from which the domestic duck is descended: the male has a green or bluish-black head, a thin band of white around the neck, and a rusty breast

Etymology: ME < OFr malart < *maslart < masle: see male

mallard Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • include: Their eagerly awaited game menu will include mallard, teal, pigeon, venison and later in the season, pheasant.
  • see: I remember looking down and seeing a mallard sitting tight on her nest among the wild garlic.
  • breed: The large islands near the eastern shore support breeding mallard mute swan and Canada goose.
  • have: We had a momma mallard stroll through a few years ago.

Adjective modifier

  • wild: The water in different mood falls over a rocky ledge, divides round a tiny island, home to a pair of wild mallard.
  • female: They are much daintier and more slender than female mallards, and often have markedly orange heads and necks.
  • young: We saw the first of the young mallard on 15 April.

Modifies a noun

  • duck: There's three greedy mallard ducks who are just knocking at my door.
  • drake: There, he found a plump mallard drake lying on the springy turf.
  • duckling: A clutch of mallard ducklings huddle on a stone by the Coalport Canal, while their mother stands guard.

Noun used with modifier

  • drake: But, she wasn't feeding she was chasing away a drake mallard.
  • hen: Along the stream we caught a glimpse of a couple of hen mallards, shepherding a brood of ducklings between them.

Browse dictionary entries near mallard

  1. mall rat
  2. mall
  3. malkin
  4. malison
  5. Malinowski
  6. Malinke
  7. malinger
  8. malines
  9. malihini
  10. malignity
  1. Mallarmé
  2. malleable
  3. malleable iron
  4. mallee
  5. mallemuck
  6. malleolus
  7. mallet
  8. malleus
  9. malling
  10. Mallorca