drake

noun

: a male duck

Examples of drake in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web After 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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of drake was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near drake

Cite this Entry

“Drake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drake. Accessed 22 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

drake

noun
: a male duck

Biographical Definition

Drake

biographical name

Sir Francis 1540(or 1543)–1596 English navigator and buccaneer

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