
Define the word merganser"merganser" gcide "The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48"
Goosander \Goos"an`der\, n. [OE. gossander, a tautological word
formed fr. goose + gander. Cf. Merganser.] (Zool.)
A species of merganser (M. merganser) of Northern Europe
and America; -- called also merganser, dundiver,
sawbill, sawneb, shelduck, and sheldrake. See
Merganser.
[1913 Webster]
"Merganser" gcide "The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48"
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.] (Zool.)
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]
"merganser" wn "WordNet (r) 2.0"
merganser
n : large crested fish-eating diving duck having a slender
hooked bill with serrated edges [syn: fish duck, sawbill,
sheldrake]
|