eider, n.
(ˈaɪdə(r))
Also 8–9 edder.
[Ultimately a. Icel. æðar (aiðar), genit. of æð-r eider-duck, in the comb. æðar-d{uacu}n eider-down. The continental forms, Sw. † eider, now ejder (-gås), Da. eder(-fugl), Ger. eider(-ente), are similarly adopted from. Icel. The present Eng. spelling is probably from the Sw. used by Von Troil.]
1. A species of duck, Somateria mollissima, abundant in the Arctic regions, that lines its nest with eider-down; also, king-eider (Somateria spectabilis). Chiefly attrib., as in eider-bird, eider-duck, eider-down.
| 1743 in Phil. Trans. XLII. 612 Amongst the Sea-birds are the Edder, Ducks of Three Kinds. 1780 Von Troil Iceland 143 The eider-bird is yet more useful to the natives. 1852 D. Moir Fowler viii, The eider ducks, With their wild eyes, and necks of changeful blue. 1863 Kingsley Water-Bab. 269 Swans and brantgeese, harlequins and eiders. 1863 Spring Lapl. 384 The king eider and Barrow's Iceland duck are only occasionally seen in the autumn. |
2. The down itself.
| 1766 Pennant Zool. (1812) II. 243 The down known by the name of Eider or Edder which these birds furnish. |
3. attrib. or adj. Resembling eider-down.
| 1791 E. Darwin Bot. Gard. ii. 18 Sleep protects him with his eider wings. 1848 Kingsley Saint's Trag. iii. ii. 259 Beneath her eider robe the..earth Watches..for the sun. |