Duck/ducks/ducky

To duck someone or plunge into water dates from the 14th century, as does the meaning to bend or stoop quickly. Both these meanings stem from the antics of the water bird when searching for fish. As a term of endearment, duck or ducks dates from the late 16th century. Shakespeare uses it in this way in Troilus and Cressida Act IV, Scene IV. “Here, here he comes. (Enter Troilus) Ah, sweet ducks!” A more modern version of this endearment, ducky or duckie, dates from c.1830. In the game of cricket, a duck is a score of zero and is short for duck’s egg, which has the shape of an elongated zero and dates from the 19th century. To do a duck means to exit quickly or disappear from the scene and dates from the late 19th/early 20th century. See also Donald Duck, lame duck and love a duck