duckling
UK: ˈdʌklɪŋ | US: ˈdʌklɪŋ
n. a young duck
n. (figuratively) a small or inexperienced person
The word "duckling" combines "duck," derived from Old English dūce (meaning "diver," referencing the bird's behavior), and the diminutive suffix "-ling," from Old English -ling, used to denote smallness or youth. This suffix appears in other words like "gosling" (young goose) and "darling" (originally "little dear"). The pairing logically creates a term for a young duck, emphasizing its size or developmental stage.
The mother duck led her ducklings across the pond.
He felt like a duckling among seasoned professionals on his first day at work.
The children fed breadcrumbs to the ducklings at the park.
A lone duckling struggled to keep up with its siblings.
Her art project featured a painting of a golden duckling.