Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Duck \Duck\, n. [D. doek cloth, canvas, or Icel. d[=u]kr cloth;
   akin to OHG. tuoh, G. tuch, Sw. duk, Dan. dug.]
   1. A linen (or sometimes cotton) fabric, finer and lighter
      than canvas, -- used for the lighter sails of vessels, the
      sacking of beds, and sometimes for men's clothing.

   2. (Naut.) pl. The light clothes worn by sailors in hot
      climates. [Colloq.]

Duck \Duck\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Ducked}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Ducking}.] [OE. duken, douken, to dive; akin to D. duiken,
   OHG. t?hhan, MHG. tucken, t["u]cken, t?chen, G. tuchen. Cf.
   5th {Duck}.]
   1. To thrust or plunge under water or other liquid and
      suddenly withdraw.

            Adams, after ducking the squire twice or thrice,
            leaped out of the tub.                --Fielding.

   2. To plunge the head of under water, immediately withdrawing
      it; as, duck the boy.

   3. To bow; to bob down; to move quickly with a downward
      motion. `` Will duck his head aside.'' --Swift.

Duck \Duck\ (d[u^]k), v. i.
   1. To go under the surface of water and immediately reappear;
      to dive; to plunge the head in water or other liquid; to
      dip.

            In Tiber ducking thrice by break of day. --Dryden.

   2. To drop the head or person suddenly; to bow.

            The learned pate Ducks to the golden fool. --Shak.

Duck \Duck\, n. [OE. duke, doke. See {Duck}, v. t. ]
   1. (Zool.) Any bird of the subfamily {Anatin[ae]}, family
      {Anatid[ae]}.

   Note: The genera and species are numerous. They are divided
         into {river ducks} and {sea ducks}. Among the former
         are the common domestic duck ({Anas boschas}); the wood
         duck ({Aix sponsa}); the beautiful mandarin duck of
         China ({Dendronessa galeriliculata}); the Muscovy duck,
         originally of South America ({Cairina moschata}). Among
         the sea ducks are the eider, canvasback, scoter, etc.

   2. A sudden inclination of the bead or dropping of the
      person, resembling the motion of a duck in water.

            Here be, without duck or nod, Other trippings to be
            trod.                                 --Milton.

   {Bombay duck} (Zo["o]l.), a fish. See {Bummalo}.

   {Buffel duck}, or {Spirit duck}. See {Buffel duck}.

   {Duck ant} (Zo["o]l.), a species of white ant in Jamaica
      which builds large nests in trees.

   {Duck barnacle}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Goose barnacle}.

   {Duck hawk}. (Zo["o]l.)
      (a) In the United States: The peregrine falcon.
      (b) In England: The marsh harrier or moor buzzard.

   {Duck mole} (Zo["o]l.), a small aquatic mammal of Australia,
      having webbed feet and a bill resembling that of a duck
      ({Ornithorhynchus anatinus}). It belongs the subclass
      Monotremata and is remarkable for laying eggs like a bird
      or reptile; -- called also {duckbill}, {platypus},
      {mallangong}, {mullingong}, {tambreet}, and {water mole}.
      

   {To make ducks and drakes}, to throw a flat stone obliquely,
      so as to make it rebound repeatedly from the surface of
      the water, raising a succession of jets

Duck \Duck\ (d[u^]k), n. [Cf. Dan. dukke, Sw. docka, OHG.
   doccha, G. docke. Cf. {Doxy}.]
   A pet; a darling. --Shak.

Source : WordNet®

duck
     n 1: small wild or domesticated web-footed broad-billed swimming
          bird usually having a depressed body and short legs
     2: (cricket) a score of nothing by a batsman [syn: {duck's egg}]
     3: flesh of a duck (domestic or wild)
     4: a heavy cotton fabric of plain weave; used for clothing and
        tents

duck
     v 1: to move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away;
          "Before he could duck, another stone struck him"
     2: submerge or plunge suddenly
     3: dip into a liquid; "He dipped into the pool" [syn: {dip}, {douse}]
     4: avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing
        (duties, questions, or issues); "He dodged the issue";
        "she skirted the problem"; "They tend to evade their
        responsibilities"; "he evaded the questions skillfully"
        [syn: {hedge}, {fudge}, {evade}, {put off}, {circumvent},
        {parry}, {elude}, {skirt}, {dodge}, {sidestep}]