Young ducks, the baby waterfowl with fluffy down feathers that follow their mother.
From 'duck' (Old English 'duc' or 'doce,' of uncertain origin, possibly imitating the quack sound) + '-ling' (a diminutive suffix meaning 'small one'). The suffix '-ling' appears in many animal baby words like 'gosling' and 'duckling' specifically dates to Middle English.
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