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Webster 1913 Edition
Teal
Teal
(tēl)
, Noun.
[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.] (Zool.)
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. ☞ 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
.