'Platypus' definitions:
Definition of 'platypus'
(from WordNet)
noun
Small densely furred aquatic monotreme of Australia and Tasmania having a broad bill and tail and webbed feet; only species in the family Ornithorhynchidae [syn: platypus, duckbill, duckbilled platypus, duck-billed platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus]
Definition of 'Platypus'
From: GCIDE
Definition of 'platypus'
From: GCIDE
- Duck \Duck\, n. [OE. duke, doke. See Duck, v. t. ]
- 1. (Zool.) Any bird of the subfamily Anatin[ae], family Anatid[ae]. [1913 Webster]
- Note: The genera and species are numerous. They are divided into river ducks and sea ducks. Among the former are the common domestic duck (Anas boschas); the wood duck (Aix sponsa); the beautiful mandarin duck of China (Dendronessa galeriliculata); the Muscovy duck, originally of South America (Cairina moschata). Among the sea ducks are the eider, canvasback, scoter, etc. [1913 Webster]
- 2. A sudden inclination of the bead or dropping of the person, resembling the motion of a duck in water. [1913 Webster]
- Here be, without duck or nod, Other trippings to be trod. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- Bombay duck (Zool.), a fish. See Bummalo.
- Buffel duck, Spirit duck. See Buffel duck.
- Duck ant (Zool.), a species of white ant in Jamaica which builds large nests in trees.
- Duck barnacle. (Zool.) See Goose barnacle.
- Duck hawk. (Zool.) (a) In the United States: The peregrine falcon. (b) In England: The marsh harrier or moor buzzard.
- Duck mole (Zool.), a small aquatic mammal of Australia, having webbed feet and a bill resembling that of a duck (Ornithorhynchus anatinus). It belongs the subclass Monotremata and is remarkable for laying eggs like a bird or reptile; -- called also duckbill, platypus, mallangong, mullingong, tambreet, and water mole.
- To make ducks and drakes, to throw a flat stone obliquely, so as to make it rebound repeatedly from the surface of the water, raising a succession of jets; hence:
- To play at ducks and drakes, with property, to throw it away heedlessly or squander it foolishly and unprofitably.
- Lame duck. See under Lame. [1913 Webster]