duckweed
nounUS /ˈdʌkˌwid/
Etymology From duck + weed. Supposedly so-named for often being consumed by ducks and other waterfowl. Compare Middle English dokemete (“duckweed”, literally “duck-food”).
1
Any of several reduced floating aquatic plants in the subfamily Lemnoideae of the family Araceae.
- He that vvould diſcern the rudimentall ſtroak of a plant, may behold it in the Originall of Duckvveed, at the bigneſſe of a pins point, from convenient vvater in glaſſes, vvherein a vvatchfull eye may alſo diſcover the puncticular Originals of Perivvincles and Gnats.1658, Thomas Browne, “The Garden of Cyrus. […]. Chapter III.”, in Hydriotaphia, Urne-buriall, […] Together with The Garden of Cyrus, […], London: […] Hen[ry] Brome […], →OCLC, page 137:
- But his face was a face of such happiness that, had you seen it, you would have understood indeed how that he had died happy, never knowing that cool and streaming silver for the duckweed in the pond.1909, H. G. Wells, The Beautiful Suit:
- Derived terms
- common duckweed, duckweed fern, gibbous duckweed, great duckweed, greater duckweed, ivy duckweed, larger duckweed, least duckweed, lesser duckweed, minute duckweed, star duckweed, tropical duckweed, Valdivia duckweed