EIDER

eider, eider duck

(noun) duck of the northern hemisphere much valued for the fine soft down of the females

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

eider (plural eiders)

Any of the species of the genera Polysticta or Somateria, in the seaduck subfamily Merginae, which line their nests with fine down (taken from their own bodies).

Anagrams

• redie

Proper noun

Eider

A river in Germany, the boundary between Schleswig and Holstein.

Anagrams

• redie

Source: Wiktionary

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Ei"der, n. Etym: [Of Scand. origin, cf. Icel æ; akin to Sw. eider, Dan. ederfugl.] (Zoöl.)

Definition: Any species of sea duck of the genus Somateria, esp. Somateria mollissima, which breeds in the northern parts of Europe and America, and lines its nest with fine down (taken from its own body) which is an article of commerce; -- called also eider duck. The American eider (S. Dresseri), the king eider (S. spectabilis), and the spectacled eider (Arctonetta Fischeri) are related species. Eider down. Etym: [Cf. Icel. æ\'ebardun, Sw. eiderdun, Dan. ederduun.] Down of the eider duck, much sought after as an article of luxury.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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