To play at ducks and drakes
- To play at ducks and drakes
- Duck Duck, n. [OE. duke, doke. See {Duck}, v. t. ]
1. (Zool.) Any bird of the subfamily {Anatin[ae]}, family
{Anatid[ae]}.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The genera and species are numerous. They are divided
into {river ducks} and {sea ducks}. Among the former
are the common domestic duck ({Anas boschas}); the wood
duck ({Aix sponsa}); the beautiful mandarin duck of
China ({Dendronessa galeriliculata}); the Muscovy duck,
originally of South America ({Cairina moschata}). Among
the sea ducks are the eider, canvasback, scoter, etc.
[1913 Webster]
2. A sudden inclination of the bead or dropping of the
person, resembling the motion of a duck in water.
[1913 Webster]
Here be, without duck or nod,
Other trippings to be trod. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
{Bombay duck} (Zo["o]l.), a fish. See {Bummalo}.
{Buffel duck}, {Spirit duck}. See {Buffel duck}.
{Duck ant} (Zo["o]l.), a species of white ant in Jamaica
which builds large nests in trees.
{Duck barnacle}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Goose barnacle}.
{Duck hawk}. (Zo["o]l.)
(a) In the United States: The peregrine falcon.
(b) In England: The marsh harrier or moor buzzard.
{Duck mole} (Zo["o]l.), a small aquatic mammal of Australia,
having webbed feet and a bill resembling that of a duck
({Ornithorhynchus anatinus}). It belongs the subclass
Monotremata and is remarkable for laying eggs like a bird
or reptile; -- called also {duckbill}, {platypus},
{mallangong}, {mullingong}, {tambreet}, and {water mole}.
{To make ducks and drakes}, to throw a flat stone obliquely,
so as to make it rebound repeatedly from the surface of
the water, raising a succession of jets; hence:
{To play at ducks and drakes}, with property, to throw it
away heedlessly or squander it foolishly and unprofitably.
{Lame duck}. See under {Lame}.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
2000.
Look at other dictionaries:
ducks and drakes — noun a) A pastime of throwing flat stones across water so as to make them bounce off the surface. A kind of sport or play with an oister shell or stone throwne into the water, and making circles yer it sinke, etc. It is called a ducke and a drake … Wiktionary
ducks and drakes — I. plural noun 1. British → skipping stones. –phrase 2. make ducks and drakes of or play (at) ducks and drakes with, to handle recklessly; squander. II. plural noun Colloquial the shakes, as caused by a hangover, Parkinson s disease, etc.… …
ducks and drakes — n. the game of throwing a small, flat stone so that it will skim or skip along the surface of water make ducks and drakes of to deal with recklessly or squander: also play ducks and drakes with … English World dictionary
play ducks and drakes — ▪ To make flat stones skip on the surface of water ▪ To use recklessly ▪ To squander, waste (with of or with) ● duck … Useful english dictionary
ducks and drakes — 1. Also, duck and drake. a pastime in which flat stones or shells are thrown across water so as to skip over the surface several times before sinking. 2. play ducks and drakes with, to handle recklessly; squander: He played ducks and drakes with… … Universalium
ducks and drakes — noun a game in which a flat stone is bounced along the surface of calm water • Hypernyms: ↑game * * * n. a game of throwing flat stones so that they skim along the surface of water play ducks and drakes with Origin: late 16th cent.: from the… … Useful english dictionary
play ducks and drakes with — or make ducks and drakes of phrasal to use recklessly ; squander < played ducks and drakes with his money > … New Collegiate Dictionary
play ducks and drakes with — phrasal also make ducks and drakes of : to throw away heedlessly : squander * * * I trifle with; treat frivolously II see ducks and drakes … Useful english dictionary
To make ducks and drakes — Duck Duck, n. [OE. duke, doke. See {Duck}, v. t. ] 1. (Zool.) Any bird of the subfamily {Anatin[ae]}, family {Anatid[ae]}. [1913 Webster] Note: The genera and species are numerous. They are divided into {river ducks} and {sea ducks}. Among the… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
make ducks and drakes of — phrasal see play ducks and drakes with … New Collegiate Dictionary
