[f. BURROW sb.1 (or ? possibly sb.2, in sense ‘sand-hill’; cf. BURRANET) + DUCK. The bird makes its nest in rabbit-burrows or in sand-hills on the sea-shore.] The Sheldrake or Bergander, Anas tadorna.
1678. Ray, Willughby’s Ornith., 363. They are called by some, Burrow-Ducks, because they build in Coney-burroughs.
1709. Derham, in Phil. Trans., XXVI. 466. The Sheldrake, or Burrough-Duck.
1841. Penny Cycl., XXI. 371/1. It [Sheldrake] is called in different parts of Britain Bargander, St. George’s Duck, Burrow Duck, and Burrough Duck; [etc.].
