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Definition of maccoa

maccoa

/məˈkoʊ.ə/
mac · co · a
Plural:maccoas
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maccoa Lexical Profile

• noun

1

A species of stiff-tailed diving duck (Oxyura maccoa) native to freshwater lakes and wetlands in eastern and southern Africa, notable for the breeding male's striking chestnut-red body and bright blue bill.

Example

"While exploring the wetlands of South Africa, the ornithologist successfully photographed a male maccoa resting among the reeds."

Word Nuance & Usage

Most commonly encountered in English as part of the compound noun 'Maccoa duck'.

• Rhymes for maccoa

• Nearby Words

macaw
macaw snake
macchiato
maccoa
macdonnell
mace
mach

Word Origin & Etymology

Named by Scottish zoologist Sir Andrew Smith in 1836, likely derived from a historical spelling of the Makua (or Maccoa) people of Mozambique and surrounding regions in southern Africa.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Maccoa. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/maccoa
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