| Domestic Duck | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific Classification | |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
Domesticated ducks (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus) are ducks that are raised for meat, eggs and down. The word "duck" comes from Middle English doke which is from Old English duce which is descended from Proto-Germanic *dūkaną meaning "to dive, bend down". Further etymology is unclear. If it is related or derived from *duganą meaning "to be fit" and if the Pre-Proto-Germanic form was *dʰugʰnéh₂- with the original meaning of "to fall" and evolved to mean "to happen, be fit", then it ultimately stems from Proto-Indo-European *dʰedʰówgʰe meaning "to be productive". Many ducks are also kept for show, as pets, or for their ornamental value and are sometimes farmed as food.