noun
drake
drayk
noun
1
A male duck.
"The farmer kept a single drake with his flock of ducks."
"You can tell a drake from a hen duck by its brighter, glossier feathers."
2
A dragon, especially a smaller or lesser one in folklore and fantasy fiction.
"In the story, a young drake guarded the entrance to the cave."
3
A type of small cannon, or an old beaked warship such as a Viking longship.
How to Use Drake
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost often just means a male duck; in fantasy writing it can also mean a (usually smaller) dragon.
Common mistake
Drake is also a very common surname and stage name (e.g. the rapper Drake) — context makes clear which sense is meant.
Common pairings
a mallard drake
duck and drake
Word Forms
drakes plural, drakes plural
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Etymology
From Old English draca, a shortened form of andraca ("duck-king"), going back to a Proto-Germanic word meaning "duck leader." The dragon sense is a separate, later borrowing from the same root that gave English "dragon."