They were more ruddy in body than rubies. --Lam. iv.
7.
2. Of a lively flesh color, or the color of the human skin in
high health; as, ruddy cheeks or lips. --Dryden.
{Ruddy duck} (Zo["o]l.), an American duck ({Erismatura
rubida}) having a broad bill and a wedge-shaped tail
composed of stiff, sharp feathers. The adult male is rich
brownish red on the back, sides, and neck, black on the
top of the head, nape, wings, and tail, and white on the
cheeks. The female and young male are dull brown mixed
with blackish on the back; grayish below. Called also
{dunbird}, {dundiver}, {ruddy diver}, {stifftail},
{spinetail}, {hardhead}, {sleepy duck}, {fool duck},
{spoonbill}, etc.
{Ruddy plover} (Zo["o]l.) the sanderling.
These gray and dun colors may be also produced by
mixing whites and blacks. --Sir I.
Newton.
2. Gray-haired; gray-headed; of a gray color; hoary.
3. Old; mature; as, gray experience. Ames.
{Gray antimony} (Min.), stibnite.
{Gray buck} (Zo["o]l.), the chickara.
{Gray cobalt} (Min.), smaltite.
{Gray copper} (Min.), tetrahedrite.
{Gray duck} (Zo["o]l.), the gadwall; also applied to the
female mallard.
{Gray falcon} (Zo["o]l.) the peregrine falcon.
{Gray Friar}. See {Franciscan}, and {Friar}.
{Gray hen} (Zo["o]l.), the female of the blackcock or black
grouse. See {Heath grouse}.
{Gray mill or millet} (Bot.), a name of several plants of the
genus {Lithospermum}; gromwell.
{Gray mullet} (Zo["o]l.) any one of the numerous species of
the genus {Mugil}, or family {Mugilid[ae]}, found both in
the Old World and America; as the European species ({M.
capito}, and {M. auratus}), the American striped mullet
({M. albula}), and the white or silver mullet ({M.
Braziliensis}). See {Mullet}.
{Gray owl} (Zo["o]l.), the European tawny or brown owl
({Syrnium aluco}). The great gray owl ({Ulula cinerea})
inhabits arctic America.
{Gray parrot} (Zo["o]l.), a parrot ({Psittacus erithacus}),
very commonly domesticated, and noted for its aptness in
learning to talk.
{Gray pike}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Sauger}.
{Gray snapper} (Zo["o]l.), a Florida fish; the sea lawyer.
See {Snapper}.
{Gray snipe} (Zo["o]l.), the dowitcher in winter plumage.
{Gray whale} (Zo["o]l.), a rather large and swift California
whale ({Rhachianectes glaucus}), formerly taken in large
numbers in the bays; -- called also {grayback},
{devilfish}, and {hardhead}.
2. (Zo["o]l.)
(a) The menhaden. See {Menhaden}. [Local, U.S.]
(b) Block's gurnard ({Trigla gurnardus}) of Europe.
(c) A California salmon; the steelhead.
(d) The gray whale. See {Gray whale}, under {Gray}.
(e) A coarse American commercial sponge ({Spongia dura}).