teal

• POS: Noun

CIDE DICTIONARY

teal, n. [OE. tele; akin to D. teling a generation, production, teal, telen to breed, produce, and E. till to cultivate. The English word probably once meant, a brood or flock. See Till to cultivate.].

 Any one of several species of small fresh-water ducks of the genus Anas and the subgenera Querquedula and Nettion. The male is handsomely colored, and has a bright green or blue speculum on the wings.  [1913 Webster]
" The common European teal (Anas crecca) and the European blue-winged teal, or garganey (Anas querquedula or Anas circia), are well-known species. In America the blue-winged teal (Anas discors), the green-winged teal (Anas Carolinensis), and the cinnamon teal (Anas cyanoptera) are common species, valued as game birds. See Garganey."  [1913 Webster]

Goose teal, a goslet. See Goslet. -- Teal duck, the common European teal.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

teal, n. (pl. same)
1 any of various small freshwater ducks of the genus Anas, esp. A. crecca.
2 a dark greenish-blue colour.

Etymology

rel. to MDu. teling, of unkn. orig.