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   duck

   /dʌk/

   verb

   • 1. lower the head or the body quickly to avoid a blow or missile or so as not to be seen: "spectators ducked for cover" Similar bob downbend (down)bow downstoop (down)crouch (down)squat (down)hunch downhunker downsit on one's haunchescowercringeshrinkhuddleinformal:scoochOpposite straighten upstand
   • ▪ depart quickly: "I thought I saw you duck out"
   • ▪ avoid (a blow or missile) by moving quickly: "he ducked a punch from an angry first baseman"
   • ▪ evade or avoid (an unwelcome duty or undertaking): informal "a responsibility which a less courageous man might well have ducked" Similar shirkdodgeevadeavoidsteer clear ofrun away fromeludeescapefind a way out ofback out ofpull out ofshuneschewmisssidestepbypassskirt roundcircumventgive a wide berth tofind a way roundturn one's back oninformal:cop out ofget out ofwriggle out ofworm one's way out ofskiveskive offfunkcutduck-shovearchaic:declinebilkOpposite take part inface up to
   • 2. push or plunge (someone) under water, either playfully or as a punishment: "Rufus grabbed him from behind to duck him under the surface" Similar dipdunkplungeimmersesubmergelowersink
   • 3. refrain from playing a winning card on a particular trick for tactical reasons: "declarer ducked the opening spade lead"

   noun

   • 1. a quick lowering of the head.

   Word Origin Middle English: of Germanic origin; related to Dutch duiken and German tauchen ‘dive, dip, plunge’, also to duck1.

   Derivatives

   • 1. ducker noun

   Scrabble Points: 11

   • D

     2

   • U

     1

   • C

     3

   • K

     5

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