plural scoters or scoter
: any of a genus (Melanitta) of sea ducks of chiefly coastal Eurasia, Canada, and the U.S. that have males with chiefly black plumage
Examples of scoter in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Yes, there are tree ducks like black-bellied whistling ducks, and sea ducks like surf scoters.
—
M.d. Johnson, Field & Stream, 2 Nov. 2023
Two surf scoters at the Quabbin Reservoir, a solitary sandpiper at the Dufresne Park in Granby, a great egret at Lake Wallace in Belchertown, seven sandhill cranes in Worthington, and a pectoral sandpiper on Meadow Street in Amherst.
—Isabela Rocha, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Apr. 2023
The park’s many marshes serve as a paradise for birders, packed full of eye-catching species like wood ducks, surf scoters, and roseate spoonbills.
—Jared Ranahan, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2023
All four hunters took limits of bluebills (two birds each) Wednesday, with Wait also taking a bull canvasback and a black scoter and Miller taking a hen can.
—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 24 Oct. 2022
Seeing the scoter in person ignited a fascination within Ms. Adams.
—Susan Cosier, WSJ, 29 July 2022
The survey extends into the waters off San Diego’s coastline where teams spotted an abundance of surf scoter sea ducks and black brant geese, as is often case.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Dec. 2021
In the region, a black scoter and a sanderling were in Northfield, and two dickcissels were found in Deerfield.
—BostonGlobe.com, 2 Oct. 2021
There were reports of 120 white-winged scoters, five Western sandpipers, three American golden-plovers, three black skimmers, and three merlins.
—BostonGlobe.com, 23 Sep. 2019
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M.d. Johnson, Field & Stream, 2 Nov. 2023
Two surf scoters at the Quabbin Reservoir, a solitary sandpiper at the Dufresne Park in Granby, a great egret at Lake Wallace in Belchertown, seven sandhill cranes in Worthington, and a pectoral sandpiper on Meadow Street in Amherst.
—Isabela Rocha, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Apr. 2023
The park’s many marshes serve as a paradise for birders, packed full of eye-catching species like wood ducks, surf scoters, and roseate spoonbills.
—Jared Ranahan, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2023
All four hunters took limits of bluebills (two birds each) Wednesday, with Wait also taking a bull canvasback and a black scoter and Miller taking a hen can.
—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 24 Oct. 2022
Seeing the scoter in person ignited a fascination within Ms. Adams.
—Susan Cosier, WSJ, 29 July 2022
The survey extends into the waters off San Diego’s coastline where teams spotted an abundance of surf scoter sea ducks and black brant geese, as is often case.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Dec. 2021
In the region, a black scoter and a sanderling were in Northfield, and two dickcissels were found in Deerfield.
—BostonGlobe.com, 2 Oct. 2021
There were reports of 120 white-winged scoters, five Western sandpipers, three American golden-plovers, three black skimmers, and three merlins.
—BostonGlobe.com, 23 Sep. 2019
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Word History
Etymology
origin unknown
First Known Use
circa 1674, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near scoter
Cite this Entry
“Scoter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scoter. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
scoter
noun
sco·ter
ˈskōt-ər 
plural scoters or scoter
: any of several ducks of coasts of Eurasia, Canada, and the U.S.
More from Merriam-Webster on scoter
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about scoter
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