Muscovy duck

English

Etymology

From Muscovy Company, a trading company + duck.

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Noun

Muscovy duck (plural Muscovy ducks)

  1. A large duck (Cairina moschata) which is native to Mexico, Central and South America.
    • 1847, Mayne Reid, Popular Adventure Tales‎[1]:
      Over the water swept the great harpy eagle--also a fisher like his white-headed cousin of the North; and now and then flocks of muscovy ducks made the air resound with their strong broad wings.
    • 1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 217:
      The pond was another favourite place to visit. Moorhens strutted from the neighbouring bushes, and a bevy of Muscovy ducks, a study in black, white and red, waddled from the farmyard hard by to enjoy a refreshing splash.
    • 2001 August 31, Cecil Adams, “The Straight Dope”, in Chicago Reader‎[2]:
      Other species not protected include "exotic and feral species such as mute swans, graylag geese, muscovy ducks, European starlings, house (English) sparrows, and rock doves (pigeons)."

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