Recent Examples on the WebAfter spending almost a month receiving treatment, including two surgeries and antibiotics, the drake, or male, mallard was cleared this week to leave, according to a Facebook post from the wildlife center.—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2023 If the green drake didn’t work, the ant did.—Chris Santella, Washington Post, 13 Aug. 2022 The duck pictured this year is a lesser scaup drake.—Jim Williams, Star Tribune, 13 July 2021 At 6:35 a lone drake mallard winged in to take a look at our spread and Kammerzelt responded with a perfect shot.—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 2 Oct. 2022 When the sun hit the water and green drake mayflies began dancing on the surface, a fish lower in the pool began feeding on top.—Chris Santella, Washington Post, 13 Aug. 2022 The sketch showed a drake and hen mallard dropping into a marsh.—Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2021 Pingping, who had worked on a poultry farm for two years back in China and knew how to treat sick chickens, broke the aspirin in half and inserted one piece into the drake’s mouth.—Joan Acocella, The New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2021 This year's stamp features a drake lesser scaup painted by Richard Clifton of Milford, Delaware.—Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 27 June 2021 See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'drake.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English; akin to Old High German antrahho drake
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