GRAY DUCK Meaning and
Definition
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Gray duck refers to a game played outdoors, typically by children, which originates from the Midwest region of the United States. Also known as "Duck, Duck, Gray Duck," it is a variation of the popular children's game "Duck, Duck, Goose." In this game, participants sit in a circle, and one child is chosen as the "picker" or leader.
The picker walks around the circle, tapping each participant on the head or shoulder, and saying the word "duck" for each tap. However, instead of saying "goose" when selecting a participant to chase them, the picker says "gray duck." The chosen participant then must stand up and chase the picker around the circle, attempting to tag them before the picker sits in the vacant spot. If the picker successfully returns to the vacant spot without being tagged, the participant who failed to tag them becomes the new picker for the next round.
"Gray duck" has gained popularity due to its unique twist on the traditional "Duck, Duck, Goose" game. It encourages quick reflexes, agility, and strategic decision-making. The term "gray duck" specifically differentiates this version from its more commonly known counterpart, and has become a colloquial term for this particular variation across the Midwest.
Common Misspellings for GRAY DUCK
- fray duck
- vray duck
- bray duck
- hray duck
- yray duck
- tray duck
- geay duck
- gday duck
- gfay duck
- gtay duck
- g5ay duck
- g4ay duck
- grzy duck
- grsy duck
- grwy duck
- grqy duck
- grat duck
- grag duck
- grah duck
- grau duck
Etymology of GRAY DUCK
The term "gray duck" is a regional variant of the children's game known as "Duck, Duck, Goose". It's primarily used in the U.S. state of Minnesota and a few neighboring areas. The etymology of "gray duck" is interesting as it diverges from the standard "Duck, Duck, Goose" game.
The origin of the term "gray duck" can be traced back to the influence of Scandinavian immigrants in Minnesota during the 19th century. In Scandinavian languages such as Swedish and Norwegian, the word for "goose" is "gås" or "gås(e)". However, in these languages, the word for "duck" is "anka" or "and(e)". Therefore, when Scandinavian children played the game in their communities, the caller would tap individual children on the head or shoulder and say "Anka" (meaning "duck" in Swedish/Norwegian).
