scaup

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈskȯp 

plural scaup or scaups

: any of three diving ducks (Aythya affinis, A. novaeseelandiae, or A. marila) with the male having a glossy purplish or greenish head and a black breast and tail

scaup duck

2 of 2

noun (2)

ˈskȯp-

variants or scaup

plural scaup or scaups

: any of several ducks of the genus Aythya: such as

a

: greater scaup

b

: lesser scaup

Examples of scaup in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Again, like scaup and redheads, canvasbacks are usually hunted over open water behind a decoy spread numbering well into the triple digits. —M.d. Johnson, Field & Stream, 30 Nov. 2023

Three redheads, a northern pintail, and a Bonaparte’s gull at Turners Falls, three greater scaup and a red-breasted merganser at gate 22 at Quabbin Reservoir in New Salem, and a yellow-bellied sapsucker in Sunderland. —BostonGlobe.com, 31 Dec. 2022

Thursday morning flocks of bluebills, including both greater and lesser scaup, worked the area from first light. —Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 24 Oct. 2022

In addition, special regulations apply to scaup. —Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

short for scaup duck; scaup probably alteration of scalp bed of shellfish

Noun (2)

scaup, perhaps alteration of scalp entry 1; from its fondness for shellfish

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1797, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1797, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for scaup

• bop
• chop
• cop
• crop
• drop
• flop
• fop
• hop
• knop
• lop
• mop
• op