sleepy duck

2 definitions found

sleepy duck - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Sleepy \Sleep"y\, a. [Compar. Sleepier; superl. Sleepiest.]
     [AS. sl?pig. See Sleep, n.]
     1. Drowsy; inclined to, or overcome by, sleep. --Shak.
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              She waked her sleepy crew.            --Dryden.
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     2. Tending to induce sleep; soporiferous; somniferous; as, a
        sleepy drink or potion. --Chaucer.
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     3. Dull; lazy; heavy; sluggish. --Shak.
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              'Tis not sleepy business;
              But must be looked to speedily and strongly. --Shak.
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     4. Characterized by an absence of watchfulness; as, sleepy
        security.
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     Sleepy duck (Zool.), the ruddy duck.
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  Ruddy \Rud"dy\, a. [Compar. Ruddier; superl. Ruddiest.] [AS.
     rudig. See Rud, n.]
     1. Of a red color; red, or reddish; as, a ruddy sky; a ruddy
        flame. --Milton.
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              They were more ruddy in body than rubies. --Lam. iv.
                                                    7.
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     2. Of a lively flesh color, or the color of the human skin in
        high health; as, ruddy cheeks or lips. --Dryden.
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     Ruddy duck (Zool.), an American duck (Erismatura rubida)
        having a broad bill and a wedge-shaped tail composed of
        stiff, sharp feathers. The adult male is rich brownish red
        on the back, sides, and neck, black on the top of the
        head, nape, wings, and tail, and white on the cheeks. The
        female and young male are dull brown mixed with blackish
        on the back; grayish below. Called also dunbird,
        dundiver, ruddy diver, stifftail, spinetail,
        hardhead, sleepy duck, fool duck, spoonbill, etc.
        
  
     Ruddy plover (Zool.) the sanderling.
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