eider duck

noun

1. any of several large sea ducks of the genus Soamateria and allied genera of the Northern Hemisphere, the females of which yield eiderdown.

Word History and Origins

Origin of eider duck¹

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

The king eider duck (Somateria spectablis) is another species resembling the preceding and inhabiting the same coasts.

From Project Gutenberg

Their houses were quite small, and the people themselves were dwarfs, who called the eider duck walrus.

From Project Gutenberg

As the day declined, snow began to fall in large flakes like the down of the eider-duck.

From Project Gutenberg

The Eider Duck differs from all the birds of the same tribe hitherto described, in being essentially and absolutely a sea-bird.

From Project Gutenberg

The nest of the Scoter is described as being like that of the Eider Duck, and similarly located.

From Project Gutenberg