drake
3 synonyms for drake, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A male duck.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use drake
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a mallard drake
duck and drake
Etymology
From Old English draca, a shortened form of andraca ("duck-king"), going back to a Proto-Germanic word meaning "duck leader." The dragon sense is a separate, later borrowing from the same root that gave English "dragon."
Full origin of drake →Frequently asked questions
What does “drake” mean?
The word “drake” means a male duck. In plain terms, most often just means a male duck; in fantasy writing it can also mean a (usually smaller) dragon.
How do you pronounce “drake”?
“Drake” is pronounced drayk (/dɹeɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “drake” in a sentence?
Here is “drake” used in a sentence: “The farmer kept a single drake with his flock of ducks.”
What part of speech is “drake”?
“Drake” is a noun.
Where does the word “drake” come from?
The word “drake” comes from Old English.
Is “drake” a common word?
“Drake” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “drake” have?
“Drake” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a male duck.
What is the difference between a drake and a duck?
A drake is specifically a male duck, whereas "duck" is the general term for the bird and is also often used for a female. So every drake is a duck, but not every duck is a drake.
What do you call a female duck if the male is a drake?
A female duck is usually just called a duck, or sometimes a hen. Unlike the male, which has the distinct name drake, the female has no separate common word in everyday English.
Does drake always refer to a male duck?
No. Besides meaning a male duck, drake can refer to a dragon, especially a smaller or lesser one in folklore and fantasy fiction, and historically to a type of small cannon or an old beaked warship such as a Viking longship.
