Eider

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Eider \Ei"der\, n. [Of Scand. origin, cf. Icel [ae]?r; akin to
     Sw. eider, Dan. ederfugl.] (Zo["o]l.)
     Any species of sea duck of the genus {Somateria}, esp.
     {Somateria mollissima}, which breeds in the northern parts of
     Europe and America, and lines its nest with fine down (taken
     from its own body) which is an article of commerce; -- called


     also {eider duck}. The American eider ({S. Dresseri}), the
     king eider ({S. spectabilis}), and the spectacled eider
     ({Arctonetta Fischeri}) are related species.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     {Eider down}. [Cf. Icel. [ae][eth]ard[=u]n, Sw. eiderd[=u]n,
        Dan. ederduun.] Down of the eider duck, much sought after
        as an article of luxury.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  eider
       n : duck of the northern hemisphere much valued for the fine
           soft down of the females [syn: {eider duck}]