| 释义 |
eider, n.|ˈaɪdə(r)|
Also 8–9 edder.
[Ultimately a. Icel. æðar (aiðar), genit. of æð-r eider-duck, in the comb. æðar-dún eider-down. The continental forms, Sw. † eider, now ejder (-gås), Da. eder(-fugl), Ger. eider(-ente), are similarly adopted from. Icel. The present Eng. spelling is probably from the Sw. used by Von Troil.]
1. A species of duck, Somateria mollissima, abundant in the Arctic regions, that lines its nest with eider-down; also, king-eider (Somateria spectabilis). Chiefly attrib., as in eider-bird, eider-duck, eider-down.
1743in Phil. Trans. XLII. 612 Amongst the Sea-birds are the Edder, Ducks of Three Kinds. 1780Von Troil Iceland 143 The eider-bird is yet more useful to the natives. 1852D. Moir Fowler viii, The eider ducks, With their wild eyes, and necks of changeful blue. 1863Kingsley Water-Bab. 269 Swans and brantgeese, harlequins and eiders. 1863Spring Lapl. 384 The king eider and Barrow's Iceland duck are only occasionally seen in the autumn.
2. The down itself.
1766Pennant Zool. (1812) II. 243 The down known by the name of Eider or Edder which these birds furnish.
3. attrib. or adj. Resembling eider-down.
1791E. Darwin Bot. Gard. ii. 18 Sleep protects him with his eider wings. 1848Kingsley Saint's Trag. iii. ii. 259 Beneath her eider robe the..earth Watches..for the sun. |