drake

¹ American  

[dreyk] / dreɪk /

noun

1. a male duck.

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drake ² American  

[dreyk] / dreɪk /

noun

1. a small cannon, used especially in the 17th and 18th centuries.

2. drake fly.

3. Archaic. a dragon.

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Drake ³ American  

[dreyk] / dreɪk /

noun

1. Sir Francis, c1540–96, English admiral and buccaneer: sailed around the world 1577–80.

2. Joseph Rodman 1795–1820, U.S. poet.

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drake ¹ British  

/ dreɪk /

noun

1. angling an artificial fly resembling a mayfly

2. history a small cannon

3. an obsolete word for dragon

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Drake ² British  

/ dreɪk /

noun

1. Sir Francis. ?1540–96, English navigator and buccaneer, the first Englishman to sail around the world (1577–80). He commanded a fleet against the Spanish Armada (1588) and contributed greatly to its defeat

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drake ³ British  

/ dreɪk /

noun

1. the male of any duck

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Etymology

Origin of drake¹

1250–1300; Middle English; cognate with Low German drake, dialectal German drache; compare Old High German antrahho, anutrehho male duck

Origin of drake²

before 900; Middle English; Old English draca < Latin dracō dragon

Example Sentences

After spending almost a month receiving treatment, including two surgeries and antibiotics, the drake, or male, mallard was cleared this week to leave, according to a Facebook post from the wildlife center.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 28, 2023

If the green drake didn’t work, the ant did.

From Washington Post • Aug. 13, 2022

“For now, cover her back up,” drake told Galen warmly.

From New York Times • Jan. 12, 2022

I can't count the hours that myself and drake have spent writing producing and recording music.

From Time • Jul. 23, 2015

Whil'st the goose soe goodly white, And the drake, yeeld noe delight, Though his wings' conceited hewe Paint each feather, as if new.

From The Complete Works of Richard Crashaw, Volume I (of 2) by Crashaw, Richard