mallard

noun

mal·​lard ˈma-lərd How to pronounce mallard (audio)
plural mallard or mallards
: a common and widely distributed wild duck (Anas platyrhynchos) of the northern hemisphere the males of which have a green head and white-ringed neck and which is the source of the domestic ducks

Illustration of mallard

Illustration of mallard

Examples of mallard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The cartoon tale about a family of mallards sustained momentum and flew to $127 million in North America — more than 10 times its debut — and nearly $300 million worldwide. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 29 Oct. 2024 This picture book, written and illustrated by Robert McCloskey, was first published in 1941 and was such a huge hit that a sculpture of its characters, a pair of mallards and their brood of ducklings, was later installed in the Public Garden. Kim Foley MacKinnon, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024 Canada geese and mallards, meanwhile, tend to stick around much later in the fall. Maia Pandey, Journal Sentinel, 26 Sep. 2024 Most waterfowl are likewise still to arrive: While a few species — mallards, Canada geese and mute swans — do breed locally, the vast majority of our ducks are winter birds. Jack Gedney, The Mercury News, 23 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mallard 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mallard.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French mallart

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mallard was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near mallard

Cite this Entry

“Mallard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mallard. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

mallard

noun
mal·​lard ˈmal-ərd How to pronounce mallard (audio)
plural mallard or mallards
: a common and widely distributed wild duck of the northern hemisphere the males of which have a green head and white ring around the neck and that is the source of the domestic ducks

More from Merriam-Webster on mallard

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