smient

Dutch

Anas penelope (male) in Nederlandsche vogelen, 1770-1829

Etymology

The ending -ent is generally considered to be identical to eend (“duck”); the origin of smi- is however uncertain. Some link it to Proto-Germanic *smēhaz (“small”), wigeons being fairly small of stature compared to, say, mallards. This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /smint/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: smient
• Rhymes: -int

Noun

smient f (plural smienten, diminutive smientje n)

1. the Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope

   Synonym: fluiteend

2. a wigeon, any bird of three species in the genus Mareca

Derived terms

• Amerikaanse smient
• Chileense smient

Further reading

• smient on the Dutch Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^nl
• Mareca on the Dutch Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^nl