an Asian duck, Aix galericulata, the male of which has a brightly coloured and patterned plumage and crest
mandarin duck in American English
a bright-colored, crested, Asian duck (Aix galericulata), sometimes domesticated
mandarin duck in American English
noun
a crested Asian duck, Aix galericulata, having variegated purple, green, chestnut, and white plumage
Word origin
[1790–1800]This word is first recorded in the period 1790–1800. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: echelon, gelatin, ideology, modular, silhouette