mallard

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a widespread dabbling duck, Anas platyrhynchos, from which most domestic duck breeds descend; the male has a glossy green head

   A male mallard rested beside the pond with two mottled-brown females.

2. 2
   noun

   the meat of a mallard used as food

   The restaurant served roast mallard with a sharp berry sauce.

From Middle English malard, from Old French malart ("male wild duck"), formed from a word for "male" + the noun suffix -ard. The name first referred especially to the drake and later to the species as a whole.

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