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mer·gan·ser

(mər-gănsər)

Any of various fish-eating diving ducks primarily of the genus Mergus, having a slim hooked bill. Also called sheldrake.

[New Latin : Latin mergus, diver (from mergere, to plunge) + Latin ānser, goose; see ghans- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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