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duckling

American  
[duhk-ling] / ˈdʌk lɪŋ /

noun

  1. a young duck.


duckling British  
/ ˈdʌklɪŋ /

noun

  1. a young duck

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of duckling

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; duck 1, -ling 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

My parents look at me like they don’t quite know me, but in a good way, like they’re surprised to find that their ugly duckling was a swan all along.

From Literature

Have warm feelings toward Copenhagen’s favorite son, Hans Christian Andersen, and his little tales about lovelorn mermaids and ugly ducklings?

From Los Angeles Times

I drove around downtown Los Angeles on a recent Friday morning looking for one of the Civic Center’s ugly ducklings.

From Los Angeles Times

In fact, Callas made herself out of what she considered to be an ugly duckling.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s to the Moscow mallard and her ducklings I head to find out what Russians think of America and of the US election.

From BBC