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Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary

February 10, 2012

Project::Noah

It is not only important, but, in a degree necessary, that the people of this country, should have an American Dictionary of the English language; for, although the body of the language is the same as in England, and it is desirable to perpetuate that sameness, yet some differences must exist. Language is the expression of ideas; and if the people of one country cannot preserve an identity of ideas, they cannot retain an identity of language.

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(17) Words.

beduck
decoy-duck
duck
duck-legged
duck-meat
duck-weed
ducked
ducker
ducking
ducking-stool
duckling
duckoy
ducks-foot
ducks-meat
field-duck
muscovy-duck
shelduck

Webster

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D › duck

1828 Definition

DUCK, n. [G, L., to weave.] A species of coarse cloth or canvas, used for sails, sacking of beds, &c.

DUCK, n. [from the verb, to duck.]

1. A water fowl, so called from its plunging. There are many species or varieties of the duck, some wild, others tame.

2. An inclination of the head, resembling the motion of a duck in water.

3. A stone thrown obliquely on the water so as to rebound; as in duck and drake.

DUCK, n. A word of endearment or fondness.

DUCK, v.t. [G.]

1. To dip or plunge in water and suddenly withdraw; as, to duck a seamen. It differs from dive, which signifies to plunge ones self, without immediately emerging.

2. To plunge the head in water and immediately withdraw it; as, duck the boy.

3. To bow, stoop or nod.

DUCK, v.i.

1. To plunge into water and immediately withdraw; to dip; to plunge the head in water or other liquid.

In Tiber ducking thrice by break of day.

2. To drop the head suddenly; to bow; to cringe.

Duck with French nods.

1913 Definition

Duck (duck)
n.	(dk)
Duck
[Cf. Dan. dukke, Sw. docka, OHG. doccha, G. docke. Cf. Doxy.]

A pet; a darling.

Shak.

A linen (or sometimes cotton) fabric, finer and lighter than canvas, -- used for the lighter sails of vessels, the sacking of beds, and sometimes for men's clothing.

The light clothes worn by sailors in hot climates.

[Colloq.]

To thrust or plunge under water or other liquid and suddenly withdraw.

Adams, after ducking the squire twice or thrice, leaped out of the tub. Fielding.

To plunge the head of under water, immediately withdrawing it; as, duck the boy.

To bow; to bob down; to move quickly with a downward motion.

" Will duck his head aside." Swift.

To go under the surface of water and immediately reappear; to dive; to plunge the head in water or other liquid; to dip.

In Tiber ducking thrice by break of day. Dryden.

To drop the head or person suddenly; to bow.

The learned pate
Ducks to the golden fool. Shak.

Any bird of the subfamily Anatinæ, family Anatidæ.

* The genera and species are numerous. They are divided into river ducks and sea ducks. Among the former are the common domestic duck (Anas boschas); the wood duck (Aix sponsa); the beautiful mandarin duck of China (Dendronessa galeriliculata); the Muscovy duck, originally of South America (Cairina moschata). Among the sea ducks are the eider, canvasback, scoter, etc.

A sudden inclination of the bead or dropping of the person, resembling the motion of a duck in water.

Here be, without duck or nod,
Other trippings to be trod. Milton.

Bombay duck (Zoöl.), a fish. See Bummalo. -- Buffel duck, or Spirit duck. See Buffel duck. -- Duck ant (Zoöl.), a species of white ant in Jamaica which builds large nests in trees. -- Duck barnacle. (Zoöl.) See Goose barnacle. -- Duck hawk. (Zoöl.) (a) In the United States: The peregrine falcon. (b) In England: The marsh harrier or moor buzzard. -- Duck mole (Zoöl.), a small aquatic mammal of Australia, having webbed feet and a bill resembling that of a duck (Ornithorhynchus anatinus). It belongs the subclass Monotremata and is remarkable for laying eggs like a bird or reptile; -- called also duckbill, platypus, mallangong, mullingong, tambreet, and water mole. -- To make ducks and drakes, to throw a flat stone obliquely, so as to make it rebound repeatedly from the surface of the water, raising a succession of jets; hence: To play at ducks and drakes, with property, to throw it away heedlessly or squander it foolishly and unprofitably. -- Lame duck. See under Lame.

Noah Says...

The Bible must be considered as the great source of all the truth by which men are to be guided in government as well as in all social transactions.

What type of executive do you want to be?

Ask yourself? Which side of the game do you want to be on? Do you want to be remembered as the executive who failed to recognize the business opportunity staring you in the face? Or do you want to be remembered as the visionary who executed and altered your company forever? The choice is yours.

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Project::Noah

More info ...

The foundation for American Heritage Access [AHA] strives to capture the essence of American culture with an intent to make early American manuscripts accessible to modern society. We believe that the successful future of this country is dependent on honoring and respecting its past. In order to achieve this ideal, several projects will be introduced and executed. The first initiatives of Project::Noah will involve the accessibility of the 1828 American dictionary.

Vision::Reprint

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The first vision, Vision::Reprint, has an intent to make a modern printing of the first dictionary of the American language available to the public for under $25. The first task, Task::Access, involves the digitizing of the original 1828 dictionary. The dictionary is available in microfilm (American Culture Series, Reel 335.6-336.1, Michigan University Microfilms) at many universities. To digitize the microfilm as a batch process requires a special scanner.

Vision::Redesign

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The second vision, Vision::Redesign, has an intent to improve the current online accessibility to the 1828 dictionary. Beyond the Task::XML, other tasks related to this Vision::Redesign include identifying features and functionality for this new website. In addition, plugins will be discussed and created to make the dictionary accessible in other ways: iPhone, Google widget, Firefox Add-on, etc.

Vision::Recapture

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The third vision, Vision::Recapture, has an intent to evoke the importance of Noah Webster in our American Heritage. This vision will manifest itself in a commissioned painting of Noah Webster. The process involved will require the input from concerned Americans. The final commission painting will be derived from initial sketches and digital compositions. Feedback from the community is essential for this vision's success throughout the entire process.

February 10, 2012