Mul·lin·gong n. Zool. See Duck mole, under Duck. [Written also mollingong.]

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 Mole, n.
 1. Zool. Any insectivore of the family Talpidae.  They have minute eyes and ears, soft fur, and very large and strong fore feet.
 Note: ☞ The common European mole, or moldwarp (Talpa Europaea), is noted for its extensive burrows.  The common American mole, or shrew mole (Scalops aquaticus), and star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata) have similar habits.
 Note: ☞ In the Scriptures, the name is applied to two unindentified animals, perhaps the chameleon and mole rat.
 2. A plow of peculiar construction, for forming underground drains. [U.S.]
 Duck mole. See under Duck.
 Golden mole. See Chrysochlore.
 Mole cricket Zool., an orthopterous insect of the genus Gryllotalpa, which excavates subterranean galleries, and throws up mounds of earth resembling those of the mole.  It is said to do damage by injuring the roots of plants.  The common European species (Gryllotalpa vulgaris), and the American (Gryllotalpa borealis), are the best known.
 Mole rat Zool., any one of several species of Old World rodents of the genera Spalax, Georychus, and several allied genera.  They are molelike in appearance and habits, and their eyes are small or rudimentary.
 Mole shrew Zool., any one of several species of short-tailed American shrews of the genus Blarina, esp. Blarina brevicauda.
 Water mole, the duck mole.


 Mon·o·trem·a·ta n. pl.  Zool. A subclass of Mammalia, having a cloaca in which the ducts of the urinary, genital, and alimentary systems terminate, as in birds.  The female lays eggs like a bird. See Duck mole, under Duck, and Echidna.

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 Or·ni·tho·rhyn·chus prop. n.  Zool. A genus of monotremes including the platypus (Ornithorhyncus anatinus).  See Duck mole, under Duck.

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 Plat·y·pus n.  Zool. The duck mole. See under Duck.
 Syn: -- Duck Mole, duckbill, duck-bill platypus, duck-billed platypus.

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 Duck, n.
 1. Zool. Any bird of the subfamily Anatinæ, family Anatidæ.
 Note: ☞ 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.
 2. 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 Zool., a fish. See Bummalo.
 Buffel duck, Spirit duck. See Buffel duck.
 Duck ant Zool., a species of white ant in Jamaica which builds large nests in trees.
 Duck barnacle. Zool. See Goose barnacle.
 Duck hawk. Zool. (a) In the United States: The peregrine falcon. (b) In England: The marsh harrier or moor buzzard.
 Duck mole Zool., 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.

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 Duck·bill, n. Zool. See Duck mole, under Duck, n.

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