meaning of sheldrake
1. Any one of several species of large Old World ducks of the genus Tadorna and allied genera, especially the European and Asiatic species. (T. cornuta, / tadorna), which somewhat resembles a goose in form and habit, but breeds in burrows.
2. Any one of the American mergansers.
3. Old World gooselike duck slightly larger than a mallard with variegated mostly black-and-white plumage and a red bill