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merganser
About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.

mer·gan·ser

noun \(ˌ)mər-ˈgan(t)-sər\

Definition of MERGANSER

: 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

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Illustration of MERGANSER

Origin of MERGANSER

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

First Known Use: 1668

Rhymes with MERGANSER

advancer, clog dancer, lap dancer, line dancer, square dancer, sword dancer, tap dancer

merganser

noun (Concise Encyclopedia)

Any species of the diving duck genus Mergus. Essentially freshwater birds, they are classified as a sea duck (tribe Mergini). Mergansers have a long body and a narrow, serrated, hooked bill for catching fish. The males of all but the common merganser, or goosander (M. merganser), are crested. The common merganser, the hooded merganser (M. cucullatus), the red-breasted merganser (M. serrator), and the smew (M. albellus), a small, compact merganser with a short bill, live in northern regions; the only southern species is the Brazilian merganser (M. octosetaceus). Mergansers are called trash ducks because their flesh is rank. See also shelduck.