duckweed means any of several reduced floating aquatic plants in the subfamily Lemnoideae of the family Araceae.
duckweed is pronounced /ˈdʌkˌwid/.
Etymology
From duck + weed. Supposedly so-named for often being consumed by ducks and other waterfowl. Compare Middle English dokemete (“duckweed”, literally “duck-food”).
noun
- Any of several reduced floating aquatic plants in the subfamily Lemnoideae of the family Araceae.“He that vvould diſcern the rudimentall ſtroak of a plant, may behold it in the Originall of Duckvveed, at the bigneſſe of a pins point, from convenient vvater in glaſſes, vvherein a vvatchfull eye may alſo diſcover the puncticular Originals of Perivvincles and Gnats.”