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

Four redheads at Chestnut Hill Reservoir in Chestnut Hill four more redheads at Jamaica Pond in Jamaica Plain, and a lesser scaup at Leverett Pond in Boston. — 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

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