Also 8 quaake. [Imitative: cf. Du. kwakken, G. quacken to croak, quack. Older variants are QUACKLE, QUAKE, QUECK, q.v.]
1. intr. Of a duck: To utter its characteristic note. Also with cognate obj.
1617. Minsheu, Ductor, To Quacke as a ducke,… coaxare.
1708. W. King, Art of Cookery, 63 (J.).
| For Locket’s stands where Garden’s once did spring, | |
| And Wild-Ducks quack where Grass-hoppers did sing. |
1727. Bailey, vol. II., Quacking [ed. 1731 Quaaking], making a Noise, as ducks do.
1755. Johnson, Quack.… This word is often written quaake, to represent the sound better.
1815. [see QUACKING vbl. sb.2].
1862. G. Kearley, Links in Chain, ix. 222. He [the duck] no sooner recognized the aviary in which he had previously lived, than he quacked vehemently and clapped his wings with delight.
1869. Blackmore, Lorna D., x. There were thirteen ducks … and … they all quacked very movingly.
1893. Earl Dunmore, Pamirs, I. 185. They [some duck] swam out into the middle of the lack and quacked the quack of derision at us.
b. Of a raven or frog: To croak. rare.
1727. Boyer, Anglo-Fr. Dict., To Quack (or to croak, as Ravens do), croasser.
1892. Tennyson, Foresters, II. ii. 97. My frog that used to quack When I vaulted on his back.
2. transf. To make a harsh sound like the note of a duck; to make a noisy outcry.
a. 1624. Bp. M. Smith, Serm. (1632), 136. An example to all busie-bodyes, that will dare to maintaine their right, or once to quacke against their betters.
1894. Hall Caine, Manxman, 265. He puffed until his lips quacked, though the pipe gave out no smoke.
