Merganser

Merganser
Merganser Mer*gan"ser, n. [Sp. merg['a]nsar, fr. mergo a diver (L. mergus, fr. mergere to dip, dive) + ['a]nsar goose, L. anser.] (Zo["o]l.) Any bird of the genus {Mergus} ({Merganser}), and allied genera of the subfamily Merginae. They are allied to the ducks, but have a sharply serrated bill, eat fish, and dive for food. Also called {fish duck}. [1913 Webster +PJC]

Note: The red-breasted merganser ({Merganser serrator}) inhabits both hemispheres. It is called also {sawbill}, {harle}, and {sheldrake}. The American merganser ({Merganser Americanus}.) and the hooded merganser ({Lophodytes cucullatus}) are well-known species.

{White merganser}, the smew or white nun. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • merganser — [mər gan′sər] n. pl. mergansers or merganser [ModL < L mergus, diver (waterfowl) < mergere (see MERGE) + anser,GOOSE] any of several fish eating, diving ducks with a long, slender, serrated bill hooked at the tip and, usually, a crested… …   English World dictionary

  • Merganser — Merganser, Vogel, eine Art Sägetaucher …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • merganser — type of duck, 1752, coined in Modern Latin (1550s), from L. mergus waterfowl, diver (from mergere to dip, immerse; see MERGE (Cf. merge) (v.)) + anser goose (see GOOSE (Cf. goose) (n.)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • merganser — ► NOUN ▪ a fish eating diving duck with a long, thin serrated and hooked bill. ORIGIN from Latin mergus diver + anser goose …   English terms dictionary

  • merganser — /meuhr gan seuhr/, n., pl. mergansers, (esp. collectively) merganser. any of several fish eating diving ducks of the subfamily Merginae, having a narrow bill hooked at the tip and serrated at the edges. Also called fish duck. [1745 55; < NL,… …   Universalium

  • merganser — Goosander Goos an der, n. [OE. gossander, a tautological word formed fr. goose + gander. Cf. {Merganser}.] (Zo[ o]l.) A species of merganser ({M. merganser}) of Northern Europe and America; called also {merganser}, {dundiver}, {sawbill}, {sawneb} …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • merganser — /mɜˈgænsə/ (say mer gansuh) noun (plural mergansers, merganser) any of several fish eating, diving ducks of the genera Mergus and Lophodytes, having slender, saw toothed bills, as the common merganser, or goosander, M. merganser, or the red… …  

  • merganser — [mə: ganzə, sə] noun a fish eating diving duck with a long, thin serrated and hooked bill. [Mergus serrator (red breasted merganser) and related species.] Origin C17: mod. L., from L. mergus diver + anser goose …   English new terms dictionary

  • merganser — dančiasnapiai statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Mergus angl. merganser; smew vok. Säger, m rus. крохаль, m pranc. harle, m ryšiai: platesnis terminas – dančiasnapiai siauresnis terminas – brazilinis dančiasnapis siauresnis… …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • Merganser Americanus — Merganser Mer*gan ser, n. [Sp. merg[ a]nsar, fr. mergo a diver (L. mergus, fr. mergere to dip, dive) + [ a]nsar goose, L. anser.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any bird of the genus {Mergus} ({Merganser}), and allied genera of the subfamily Merginae. They are… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”