wigeon
wigeon
UK[ˈwɪdʒ.ən]US[ˈwɪdʒ.ən]
n
A medium-sized freshwater duck with mainly reddish-brown and gray plumage, the male having a distinctive creamy-yellow forehead.
Etymology
The word 'wigeon' entered English in the early 16th century from the French 'vigeon', which itself is of uncertain origin. It is likely imitative in some way, perhaps influenced by the whistling call of the bird. The spelling shifted from the initial 'v' to a 'w', a common pattern for French loanwords entering English. The term has remained a specific, unanalyzed label for this particular species of duck, with no further morphemic segmentation possible in modern English.
Analysis
The word 'wigeon' is a simplex loanword. Its spelling and form were adopted as a whole from French.
Examples
A pair of wigeon were dabbling for aquatic plants at the lake's edge.
The male wigeon is easily identified by the bright yellow patch on its forehead.
Large flocks of wigeon migrate south for the winter.