scoter

C2 Topic:Animals
US /ˈskoʊtɚ/ UK /ˈskəʊtə/
noun Freq #265020

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    a large northern sea duck of the genus Melanitta, whose adult males are predominantly black and which feeds by diving

    A black scoter disappeared beneath the waves and surfaced several metres from the flock.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · a large northern sea duck... sea duck
Word family
Forms scoter-drakescoter-duck
Derived forms scoter-drakescoter-duck
Related forms Melanittablack scotercommon scotersurf scoterwhite-winged scoterdiving duck

Etymology

Recorded in English since the seventeenth century, but of uncertain origin. The alternative historical spelling scooter should not be confused with the modern vehicle noun.

Topics

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