Puck vs. Duck — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 31, 2023
A puck is a hard rubber disc used in hockey games, while a duck is a waterfowl known for its quacking sound and webbed feet.
Difference Between Puck and Duck
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A puck is a small, hard, rubber disc used in sports like ice hockey, while a duck is a type of bird commonly found in water environments.
Pucks are integral to hockey games, sliding across ice surfaces, whereas ducks are known for their swimming ability in ponds and lakes.
The design of a puck is flat and round, optimized for gliding on ice, while ducks have distinctive features like webbed feet and a flat beak.
Pucks are manufactured objects, essential sports equipment, whereas ducks are living creatures, often seen in nature or domesticated.
In the context of their respective realms, a puck is synonymous with hockey, just as ducks are closely associated with water bodies and quacking sounds.
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Comparison Chart
Type
Sports equipment
Bird, animal
Usage
Used in hockey games
Found in natural or domestic environments
Physical Characteristics
Hard, rubber, flat disc
Webbed feet, flat beak, feathers
Environment
Ice rinks, sports arenas
Ponds, lakes, wetlands
Association
Integral to hockey
Known for swimming, quacking
Compare with Definitions
Puck
Central to hockey gameplay.
The team practiced passing the puck.
Duck
Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family Anatidae. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and geese, which are also members of the same family.
Puck
Designed for gliding on ice.
The puck slid swiftly across the rink.
Duck
A waterbird with a broad blunt bill, short legs, webbed feet, and a waddling gait.
Puck
A hard rubber disc used in hockey.
The player skillfully hit the puck into the goal.
Duck
A pure white thin-shelled bivalve mollusc found off the Atlantic coasts of America.
Puck
An essential item in ice hockey.
The game can't start without the puck.
Duck
An amphibious transport vehicle
Visitors can board an amphibious duck to explore the city
Puck
A small, flat object for sports.
He bought a new puck for the upcoming game.
Duck
A quick lowering of the head.
Puck
A mischievous sprite in English folklore.
Duck
Dear; darling (used as an informal or affectionate form of address, especially among cockneys)
Where've yer been, ducks!
It's time you changed, my duck
Puck
A hard rubber disk used in ice hockey.
Duck
A strong linen or cotton fabric, used chiefly for work clothes and sails
Cotton duck
Puck
A mischievous or hostile spirit.
Duck
A batsman's score of nought
He was out for a duck
Puck
(ice hockey) A hard rubber disc; any other flat disc meant to be hit across a flat surface in a game.
Duck
Lower the head or the body quickly to avoid a blow or missile or so as not to be seen
Spectators ducked for cover
He ducked his head and entered
Puck
An object shaped like a puck.
Duck
Push or plunge (someone) under water, either playfully or as a punishment
Rufus grabbed him from behind to duck him under the surface
Puck
(computing) A pointing device with a crosshair.
Duck
Refrain from playing a winning card on a particular trick for tactical reasons
Declarer ducked the opening spade lead
Puck
A penalty shot.
Duck
Any of various wild or domesticated waterbirds of the family Anatidae, characteristically having a broad flat bill, short legs, and webbed feet.
Puck
Billy goat
Duck
A female duck.
Puck
A body position between the pike and tuck positions, with knees slightly bent and folded in; open tuck.
Duck
The flesh of a duck used as food.
Puck
To hit, strike.
Duck
(Slang) A person, especially one thought of as peculiar.
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
Often ducks (used with a sing. verb) Chiefly British A dear.
Puck
A disk of vulcanized rubber used in the game of hockey, as the object to be driven through the goals.
Duck
A quick lowering of the head or body.
Puck
A mischievous sprite of English folklore
Duck
A plunge under water.
Puck
A vulcanized rubber disk 3 inches in diameter that is used instead of a ball in ice hockey
Duck
A durable, closely woven heavy cotton or linen fabric.
Duck
Ducks Clothing made of duck, especially white pants.
Duck
An amphibious military truck used during World War II.
Duck
A similar vehicle used for civilian purposes, as to evacuate flood victims or for sightseeing tours. In both senses also called DUKW.
Duck
To lower quickly, especially so as to avoid something
Ducked his head as the ball came toward him.
Duck
To evade; dodge
Duck responsibility.
Ducked the reporter's question.
Duck
To push (a person, for example) suddenly under water.
Duck
In bridge, to deliberately play a card that is lower than (an opponent's card).
Duck
To lower the head or body.
Duck
To move swiftly, especially so as to escape being seen
Ducked behind a bush.
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 known for quacking.
The duck quacked loudly at the pond.
Duck
A bird with webbed feet.
The duck swam effortlessly across the lake.
Duck
Often found in aquatic environments.
We saw a duck near the riverbank.
Duck
Can be wild or domesticated.
She keeps a few ducks in her backyard.
Duck
Characterized by a broad, flat beak.
The duck scooped up food with its beak.
Common Curiosities
What material is a puck made from?
Typically, it's made from hard rubber.
Can ducks live in both freshwater and saltwater?
Yes, different species can adapt to various water environments.
Do all ducks quack?
Most do, but the sound can vary among species.
How is a puck designed for its purpose?
It's flat and round to glide smoothly on ice.
How important is a puck in a hockey game?
It's central to the gameplay, much like a ball in soccer or basketball.
Do pucks get damaged during games?
They're quite durable, but can show wear over time.
Can pucks vary in size or weight?
They're generally standardized, but slight variations exist for different leagues.
Are pucks ever used outside of sports?
Rarely, they're primarily designed for hockey.
Can ducks be trained or domesticated?
Some breeds are easily domesticated and can be trained to some extent.
What do ducks typically eat?
Their diet can include aquatic plants, insects, and small fish.
Do ducks have any natural predators?
Yes, including foxes, large fish, and birds of prey.
Is a puck only used in ice hockey?
Primarily, yes, though similar items are used in related sports.
Are ducks migratory birds?
Many species migrate seasonally.
How do ducks adapt to cold environments?
They have insulating feathers and can regulate blood flow to their feet.
Is there a standard color for hockey pucks?
They're almost always black for visibility on the ice.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
