ruddy duck


noun

a stiff-tailed American duck, Oxyura jamaicensis, the adult male of which has a brownish-red body, black crown, and white cheeks.

Origin of ruddy duck

An Americanism dating back to 1805–15

British Dictionary definitions for ruddy duck

ruddy duck

noun

a small duck, Oxyura jamaicensis, that inhabits marshes, ponds, etc, in North America and N South America and has a stiff upright tail. The male has a reddish-brown body and blue bill in the breeding season