a long-tailed northern sea duck, Clangula hyemalis, having dark wings and a white-and-brown head and body
Also called: oldwife
old squaw in American English
noun
a sea duck, Clangula hyemalis, of arctic and subarctic regions
Also: oldsquaw
Word origin
[1830–40, Amer.]This word is first recorded in the period 1830–40. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: format, isometric, orientation, paraffin, showcase