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Definition of maccoa
maccoa
/məˈkoʊ.ə/
mac · co · a
Plural:maccoas
maccoa Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
12
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• 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
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 Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/maccoa