Merganser
/mɜːrˈɡænsər/noun
A fish-eating diving duck of the genus Mergus, recognized by its narrow, serrated bill.
Did you know?The name combines Latin mergus, “diver,” with anser, “goose,” reflecting ancient naturalists’ classification of this duck as a goose-like water bird.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*merǵ-
“To dip, sink, or plunge into water”
Classical Latin
Latin
mergere
“To plunge or sink beneath water”
Classical Latin
Latin
mergus
“A diver; a diving water bird”
Classical Latin
Latin
anser
“Goose”
Classical Latin
Latin
merganser
“A diving goose or goose-like diving bird”
16th Century
English
merganser
“The name adopted for a fish-eating diving duck”