Puck vs. Duck: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 11, 2023
Puck is a hard rubber disc used in ice hockey, whereas Duck is a waterfowl bird.
Key Differences
A puck, recognized universally in the realm of sports, particularly in ice hockey, significantly differs from a duck, which is commonly identified as a bird in nature. The puck is an essential component to conduct a hockey game, and in contrast, a duck is a part of numerous ecosystems and is also domesticated by humans. Both words, although sounding slightly similar, refer to entirely distinct entities.
Functionality wise, a puck is employed to score goals in ice hockey and is hit using a hockey stick, while a duck does not have a 'use' as such, it can be a wild animal or a domesticated pet, and can also be found in various culinary dishes. While the puck navigates the cold, icy surface of a hockey rink, the duck may navigate through waters in ponds, lakes, and rivers.
Materially, a puck is composed of vulcanized rubber, designed to endure impact and cold temperatures; oppositely, a duck, being a living entity, comprises biological matter, with feathers, a beak, and webbed feet, which enable it to swim. The puck serves a specific, instrumental purpose in a recreational activity, while the duck contributes to biological diversity and can be a source of sustenance.
Interestingly, the puck and the duck could interplay in cultural contexts: one can imagine a scenario where a puck being used in an outdoor ice hockey game in a natural setting could potentially interact with a duck if it is played near a body of water. Such a scenario, however, would be quite unusual and whimsical to witness.
In global recognition, the puck is primarily associated with countries where ice hockey is prevalent, like Canada, whereas the duck is universally recognized across various cultures and countries as a common bird species. Both may symbolize various things in different cultural contexts, with the puck often being symbolic of sportsmanship and competition, and the duck potentially symbolizing tranquility or even featured in various fables and stories.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A hard rubber disc used in ice hockey.
A bird that is commonly found in water.
Material
Made of vulcanized rubber.
Comprises biological matter.
Utilization
Used to play and score in ice hockey.
Can be wild, domesticated, or consumed.
Context
Primarily found in a sports environment.
Found in natural and domestic settings.
Interaction
Interacts with hockey sticks and players.
Interacts with nature and other animals.
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Puck and Duck Definitions
Puck
A mechanical device in air hockey.
The child hit the puck so hard it zoomed into the goal.
Duck
A durable, closely woven heavy cotton fabric.
The tent was made of duck to withstand harsh conditions.
Puck
A disk-shaped food item.
She sliced the goat cheese puck thinly for the salad.
Duck
(In cricket) A score of zero by a batsman.
Unfortunately, the player was out for a duck.
Puck
A term used in printing to describe a small disc used to lift a sheet of paper.
Ensure the puck is in the right position to avoid paper jams.
Duck
Any of various wild or domesticated waterbirds of the family Anatidae, characteristically having a broad flat bill, short legs, and webbed feet.
Puck
A black, rubber disk used in ice hockey.
The player skillfully maneuvered the puck across the ice.
Duck
A female duck.
Puck
(In folklore) A mischievous fairy or demon.
In the play, a puck played tricks on the unsuspecting travelers.
Duck
The flesh of a duck used as food.
Puck
A mischievous sprite in English folklore.
Duck
(Slang) A person, especially one thought of as peculiar.
Puck
A hard rubber disk used in ice hockey.
Duck
Often ducks (used with a sing. verb) Chiefly British A dear.
Puck
A mischievous or hostile spirit.
Duck
A quick lowering of the head or body.
Puck
(ice hockey) A hard rubber disc; any other flat disc meant to be hit across a flat surface in a game.
Duck
A plunge under water.
Puck
An object shaped like a puck.
Duck
A durable, closely woven heavy cotton or linen fabric.
Puck
(computing) A pointing device with a crosshair.
Duck
Ducks Clothing made of duck, especially white pants.
Puck
A penalty shot.
Duck
An amphibious military truck used during World War II.
Puck
Billy goat
Duck
A similar vehicle used for civilian purposes, as to evacuate flood victims or for sightseeing tours. In both senses also called DUKW.
Puck
A body position between the pike and tuck positions, with knees slightly bent and folded in; open tuck.
Duck
To lower quickly, especially so as to avoid something
Ducked his head as the ball came toward him.
Puck
To hit, strike.
Duck
To evade; dodge
Duck responsibility.
Ducked the reporter's question.
Puck
A celebrated fairy, "the merry wanderer of the night;" - called also Robin Goodfellow, Friar Rush, Pug, etc.
He meeteth Puck, whom most men callHobgoblin, and on him doth fall.
Duck
To push (a person, for example) suddenly under water.
Puck
The goatsucker.
Duck
In bridge, to deliberately play a card that is lower than (an opponent's card).
Puck
A disk of vulcanized rubber used in the game of hockey, as the object to be driven through the goals.
Duck
To lower the head or body.
Puck
A mischievous sprite of English folklore
Duck
To move swiftly, especially so as to escape being seen
Ducked behind a bush.
Puck
A vulcanized rubber disk 3 inches in diameter that is used instead of a ball in ice hockey
Duck
To submerge the head or body briefly in water.
Duck
To evade a responsibility or obligation. Often used with out
Duck out on one's family.
Duck
In bridge, to lose a trick by deliberately playing lower than one's opponent.
Duck
(intransitive) To quickly lower the head or body, often in order to prevent it from being struck by something.
Duck! There's a branch falling off the tree!
Duck
(transitive) To quickly lower (the head or body), often in order to prevent it from being struck by something.
Duck
(transitive) To lower (something) into water; to thrust or plunge under liquid and suddenly withdraw.
Duck
(intransitive) To go under the surface of water and immediately reappear; to plunge one's head into water or other liquid.
Duck
(intransitive) To bow.
Duck
(transitive) To evade doing something.
Duck
(transitive) To lower the volume of (a sound) so that other sounds in the mix can be heard more clearly.
Duck
(intransitive) To enter a place for a short moment.
I'm just going to duck into the loo for a minute, can you hold my bag?
Duck
(caving) A cave passage containing water with low, or no, airspace.
Duck
An aquatic bird of the family Anatidae, having a flat bill and webbed feet.
Duck
Specifically, an adult female duck; contrasted with drake and with duckling.
Duck
(uncountable) The flesh of a duck used as food.
Duck
(cricket) A batsman's score of zero after getting out. (short for duck's egg, since the digit "0" is round like an egg.)
Duck
(slang) A playing card with the rank of two.
Duck
A building intentionally constructed in the shape of an everyday object to which it is related.
A luncheonette in the shape of a coffee cup is particularly conspicuous, as is intended of an architectural duck or folly.
Duck
A marble to be shot at with another marble (the shooter) in children's games.
Duck
(US) A cairn used to mark a trail.
Duck
One of the weights used to hold a spline in place for the purpose of drawing a curve.
Duck
Synonym of lame duck
Duck
(medicine) A long-necked medical urinal for men.
Duck
A faggot; a meatball made from offal.
Duck
A tightly-woven cotton fabric used as sailcloth.
Duck
(in plural) Trousers made of such material.
Duck
A term of endearment; pet; darling.
Duck
(Midlands) Dear, mate (informal way of addressing a friend or stranger).
Ay up duck, ow'a'tha?
Duck
A pet; a darling.
Duck
A linen (or sometimes cotton) fabric, finer and lighter than canvas, - used for the lighter sails of vessels, the sacking of beds, and sometimes for men's clothing.
Duck
The light clothes worn by sailors in hot climates.
Duck
Any bird of the subfamily Anatinæ, family Anatidæ.
Duck
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.
Duck
To thrust or plunge under water or other liquid and suddenly withdraw.
Adams, after ducking the squire twice or thrice, leaped out of the tub.
Duck
To plunge the head of under water, immediately withdrawing it; as, duck the boy.
Duck
To bow; to bob down; to move quickly with a downward motion.
Duck
To go under the surface of water and immediately reappear; to dive; to plunge the head in water or other liquid; to dip.
In Tiber ducking thrice by break of day.
Duck
To drop the head or person suddenly; to bow.
The learned pateDucks to the golden fool.
Duck
Small wild or domesticated web-footed broad-billed swimming bird usually having a depressed body and short legs
Duck
(cricket) a score of nothing by a batsman
Duck
Flesh of a duck (domestic or wild)
Duck
A heavy cotton fabric of plain weave; used for clothing and tents
Duck
To move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away;
Before he could duck, another stone struck him
Duck
Submerge or plunge suddenly
Duck
Dip into a liquid;
He dipped into the pool
Duck
Avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues);
He dodged the issue
She skirted the problem
They tend to evade their responsibilities
He evaded the questions skillfully
Duck
A waterfowl with a broad bill, short legs, and webbed feet.
The duck quacked loudly by the pond.
Duck
To lower the head or body quickly to avoid a blow or so as not to be seen.
He had to duck to avoid the flying ball.
Duck
To immerse briefly in a liquid.
She decided to duck the cloth into the dye.
FAQs
Is "puck" used as a verb?
Not commonly, but contextually, one might say "to puck the ball" in field hockey.
How is "puck" pronounced?
It's pronounced like "puhk" ([pʌk]).
What does "duck" commonly refer to?
It primarily refers to a waterfowl bird, often found in fresh water.
How do you pronounce "duck"?
It's pronounced like "duhk" ([dʌk]).
What is the primary meaning of "puck"?
A puck is a disk made of vulcanized rubber used in the sport of ice hockey.
Is "puck" used in any literature?
Yes, Puck is also a mischievous fairy character in William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
Are there other meanings for "puck"?
In electronics, a "puck" might refer to a disk-shaped device, such as a wireless charger.
How is "duck" used as a verb?
As a verb, "duck" means to lower one's head or body quickly, often to avoid an obstacle or danger.
What is a "rubber duck"?
A rubber duck is a toy, usually yellow, made of rubber or plastic and is designed to float in water.
Is "duck" used in idiomatic expressions?
Yes, for instance "water off a duck's back" means criticism or negativity not affecting someone.
How are "puck" and "duck" similar?
Both are one-syllable nouns with a "u" in the middle and end with a "k."
Are "puck" and "duck" common words in the English language?
"Duck" is more common due to its broader usage, while "puck" is specific mostly to ice hockey enthusiasts and literature fans.
Can both words be used in sports?
Yes, "puck" in ice hockey and "duck" can be referred to as a type of bowling pin or a method in cricket indicating a batsman has been dismissed without scoring.
Which word has more meanings?
"Duck" has more diverse meanings ranging from the bird to actions and idiomatic expressions.
Are there any literary figures named "Duck"?
Not as iconic as "Puck" in Shakespeare, but there might be minor characters or titles using the name in literature.
Is it possible to confuse the two words?
Due to pronunciation and distinct meanings, it's unlikely. But typos can happen given their similar spelling.
Do both words have homonyms?
Yes. "Duck" can mean the bird or the action. "Puck" can refer to the hockey disk or the fairy from Shakespeare.
Are the words related etymologically?
No, they come from different origins. "Puck" has origins in Middle English and possibly Old English, while "duck" comes from the Old English "duc," meaning to dive.
Can both words be used as verbs?
"Duck" is frequently used as a verb, while "puck" is rarely used as a verb.
How are the words different in meaning?
A "puck" is primarily related to hockey or electronics, whereas a "duck" is a bird or an action of lowering quickly.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
