White merganser

White 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.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • White merganser — White White (hw[imac]t), a. [Compar. {Whiter} (hw[imac]t [ e]r); superl. {Whitest}.] [OE. whit, AS. hw[imac]t; akin to OFries. and OS. hw[=i]t, D. wit, G. weiss, OHG. w[=i]z, hw[=i]z, Icel. hv[=i]tr, Sw. hvit, Dan. hvid, Goth. hweits, Lith.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • white merganser — Smew Smew, n. [Perhaps for ice mew.] (Zo[ o]l.) (a) small European merganser ({Mergus albellus}) which has a white crest; called also {smee}, {smee duck}, {white merganser}, and {white nun}. (b) The hooded merganser. [Local, U.S.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • white merganser — noun dialect England : a smew (Mergus albellus) …   Useful english dictionary

  • 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 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

  • Merganser serrator — 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

  • White — (hw[imac]t), a. [Compar. {Whiter} (hw[imac]t [ e]r); superl. {Whitest}.] [OE. whit, AS. hw[imac]t; akin to OFries. and OS. hw[=i]t, D. wit, G. weiss, OHG. w[=i]z, hw[=i]z, Icel. hv[=i]tr, Sw. hvit, Dan. hvid, Goth. hweits, Lith. szveisti, to make …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • White alder — White White (hw[imac]t), a. [Compar. {Whiter} (hw[imac]t [ e]r); superl. {Whitest}.] [OE. whit, AS. hw[imac]t; akin to OFries. and OS. hw[=i]t, D. wit, G. weiss, OHG. w[=i]z, hw[=i]z, Icel. hv[=i]tr, Sw. hvit, Dan. hvid, Goth. hweits, Lith.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • White ant — White White (hw[imac]t), a. [Compar. {Whiter} (hw[imac]t [ e]r); superl. {Whitest}.] [OE. whit, AS. hw[imac]t; akin to OFries. and OS. hw[=i]t, D. wit, G. weiss, OHG. w[=i]z, hw[=i]z, Icel. hv[=i]tr, Sw. hvit, Dan. hvid, Goth. hweits, Lith.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • White arsenic — White White (hw[imac]t), a. [Compar. {Whiter} (hw[imac]t [ e]r); superl. {Whitest}.] [OE. whit, AS. hw[imac]t; akin to OFries. and OS. hw[=i]t, D. wit, G. weiss, OHG. w[=i]z, hw[=i]z, Icel. hv[=i]tr, Sw. hvit, Dan. hvid, Goth. hweits, Lith.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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