duck
UK[dʌk]US[dʌk]
n
A common water bird with short legs, webbed feet, and a broad, flat beak.
n
The meat of this bird used as food.
v
To lower the head or body quickly to avoid being hit or seen.
v
To push someone under water for a short time.
Etymology
The word "duck" originates from the Old English noun dūce, meaning "a diver," which is derived from the verb dūcan, "to dive, to duck." This verb has Proto-Germanic roots, likely from dūkaną, also meaning "to dive" or "to bend down." The semantic connection is beautifully direct: the bird is named for its characteristic action of dipping its head underwater or "ducking" below the surface to feed. This etymological path illustrates a classic case of a verb giving rise to a noun that labels an animal based on its most observable behavior, a logic that remains perfectly clear in the modern dual meanings of the word.
Analysis
The modern English word "duck" is a simplex word derived from a single Old English root.
Examples
A family of ducks paddled across the pond.
We're having roast duck for dinner.
He had to duck to avoid hitting his head on the low beam.