merganser

noun

mer·​gan·​ser (ˌ)mər-ˈgan(t)-sər How to pronounce merganser (audio)
: any of various fish-eating diving ducks (especially genus Mergus) with a slender bill hooked at the end and serrated along the margins and usually a crested head see common merganser

Illustration of merganser

Illustration of merganser

Examples of merganser in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In addition to bald eagles, other wildlife seen on the tour over the year includes: three types of grebes, three types of swans, three types of mergansers, many different gulls, loons, golden eagle, coyote, fox, deer, many hawk species, three types of seals and bobcats. Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2024 Some species, including wood ducks, buffleheads and mergansers, will stay in the forested areas of Wisconsin and Minnesota to nest in tree cavities. Journal Sentinel, 22 Apr. 2024 Common and red-breasted mergansers, also known as fish ducks, do indeed eat a wide variety of fish, including salmon smolts, trout, minnows, shad, and game fish. M.d. Johnson, Field & Stream, 2 Nov. 2023 Passengers may spy mergansers and mallards, deer, and even black bears. Mark Orwoll, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2023 See all Example Sentences for merganser 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'merganser.' 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

New Latin, from Latin mergus, a waterfowl (from mergere) + anser goose — more at goose

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of merganser was in 1668

Dictionary Entries Near merganser

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

merganser

noun
mer·​gan·​ser (ˌ)mər-ˈgan(t)-sər How to pronounce merganser (audio)
plural mergansers or merganser
: any of various fish-eating wild ducks with a slender bill hooked at the end and usually with a bunch of feathers on the head that point backward

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