bufflehead
bufflehead Lexical Profile
bufflehead Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American A small, migratory North American sea duck (Bucephala albeola) characterized by its large, puffy head, with males featuring striking black and white plumage and a large white patch on the back of the head.
"The birdwatcher carefully adjusted their binoculars to get a better look at the male bufflehead diving for crustaceans in the coastal bay."
A person regarded as foolish or stupid; a blockhead.
"The old sailor muttered under his breath, calling the inexperienced deckhand a blundering bufflehead."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the mid-17th century from 'buffle' (a corruption of 'buffalo') and 'head', originally meaning 'fool'. It was later applied to the North American duck in the late 18th century due to the bird's unusually large and bulbous head shape.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.