duckling
Young pond bird
A duckling is a young duck, typically one still covered in down rather than adult feathers.
The word often evokes images of fluffy yellow hatchlings following their mother.
In the fairy tale "The Ugly Duckling," a bird thought homely becomes a swan—making ugly duckling a term for someone whose potential isn't yet apparent.
Toward lower ground
- fluffySoft and light-textured
- softYielding to touch
- feathersBird's lightweight covering
- fuzzFine downy fibers
yellow · fuzzy · plumage · preening · molt · cottony · velvet · waterproof
Recently emerged young
- broodHatchlings as a group
- clutchMechanism linking engine to gearbox
- nestlingUnfledged young bird
- fledglingInexperienced newcomer
gosling · cygnet · chick · poult · juvenile · offspring · imprinting · mother
Stroking water with blades
- webbedConnected by membrane
- swimmingLocomotion through water
- pondSmall still body
- dabblingShallow, casual involvement
drifting · waterfowl · freshwater · diving · ripples · wetland · duckweed · surface
Scandinavian literary surname
- fairytaleMagical children's narrative
- swanLarge graceful waterbird
- transformationThorough change in form
- outcastShunned, rejected person
misfit · underdog · ugly · storybook · fable · moral · metamorphosis
Extremely endearing
- sweetTasting of sugar
- charmingPleasantly attractive in manner
- endearingArousing fondness or affection
- innocentFree from moral wrong
precious · delightful · lovable · cuddly · winsome · appealing · whimsical · dainty
Cooked uncovered with heat
- confitMeat preserved in fat
- PekingChina's capital, old spelling
- crispyBrittle and snapping
- braisedBrowned and simmered slowly
tender · succulent · five-spice · orange sauce · pressed · canard
down
Toward lower ground
fuzz · yellow · fuzzy · plumage · preening · molt · cottony · velvet · waterproof · puff
hatchling
Recently emerged young
fledgling · gosling · cygnet · chick · poult · juvenile · offspring · imprinting · mother · following
paddling
Stroking water with blades
dabbling · drifting · waterfowl · freshwater · diving · ripples · wetland · duckweed · surface · buoyant
Andersen
Scandinavian literary surname
- fairytaleMagical children's narrative
- swanLarge graceful waterbird
- transformationThorough change in form
outcast · misfit · underdog · ugly · storybook · fable · moral · metamorphosis
adorable
Extremely endearing
innocent · precious · delightful · lovable · cuddly · winsome · appealing · whimsical · dainty · heartwarming
roasted
Cooked uncovered with heat
braised · tender · succulent · five-spice · orange sauce · pressed · canard
poultry
Birds raised for food
brooder · incubator · hatchery · farmyard · coop · feed · foraging · domestic · free-range · egg
- ugly ducklingInitially unpromising eventual success
- The Ugly DucklingTransformation fable about misidentity