drake

Everyday

1. A drake is a male duck. tree →
2. (a name) Drake is a family name; Sir Francis Drake was an English sea captain and explorer of the 1500s. Drake is also the stage name of a Canadian rapper. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons, the drake mallard has a shiny green head and a curly tail feather, while the female (duck) is brown so she can hide on her nest. In history lessons, Francis Drake sailed around the world and fought the Spanish Armada. Old dragon words: drake is also an old word for a dragon in some stories.

Examples

• The drake has a bright green head. tree →
• A drake and a duck swam on the pond with their ducklings. tree →
• Female ducks are brown, but drakes are colourful. tree →
• Sir Francis Drake sailed around the world. (a name) tree →
• Drake played bowls before fighting the Armada, says the story. tree →
• The drake quacked more quietly than the female. tree →
• And the little drake answered for the other two: tree →

Note

Countable. Male duck = drake, female = duck, young = duckling. Trap: duck can mean any duck or just the female. Female mallards quack loudly; drakes make a softer, raspy sound.