either of two diving ducks, Aythya marila (greater scaup) or A. affinis (lesser scaup), of Europe and America, having a black-and-white plumage in the male
Also called (US): bluebill, broadbill
Word origin
C16: Scot variant of scalp
scaup in American English
(skɔp)
nounWord forms: pluralscaups or scaup
any of several wild ducks of the same genus (Aythya) as the redhead, canvasback, etc.
: also scaup duck
Word origin
obs. var. of scalp, mussel bed: prob. so named from eating habits