Which came first, a duck or to duck?

[samclem]

@Colibri

First known use for the bird is before the 12th Century, while the first use in the verbal sense is from the 14th Century. The latter sense is derived from the former. So ducks were ducks before they started ducking.

Duck

@septimus

If I understand these etymological notes correctly, data from other Germanic languages suggest that the noun probably derives from the verb, despite lack of early English attestations.

I think the noun form was derived from the verb form, even though the first print appearance in English suggest otherwise. The noun use was to call the bird a ducker if I understand.

@OED

Forms: α. OE duce, ME duk, ME– duck (ME dukke, 15 ducke). β. ME doke (ME dooke, 15– Sc. duke, … (Show More)

Etymology: Old English duce (? dúce ), < u- (or ū- ) grade of *dúcan to duck v., dive; compare Danish duk-and lit. dive-duck (and = duck), Swedish dyk-fågel lit. dive-fowl, diver; and the synonyms under ducker n.1
The phonological history presents some difficulties, especially owing to uncertainty whether the Old English vowel was u or ú , and the development of the three Middle English types: dukke , duk , corresponding to modern duck ; dōke , dook , corresponding to modern Scots duik /dʏk/ ; douke , dowke . Compare, for the forms, brook v. and dove n.; and see Luick, Untersuch. zur Engl. Lautgeschichte (1896) §388, 553.
Noun-

α.
967 in Kemble Cod. Dipl. No. 538. III. 18 Andlang Osrices pulle þæt hit cymþ on ducan seaþe; of ducan seaþe þæt hit cymþ on Rischale.

1377 Langland Piers Plowman B. xvii. 62 A-syde he gan hym drawe Dredfully…as duk [v.r. 5 MSS. doke] doth fram þe faucoun.

a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sloane) (1862) 5 Henne-ban sede duckys wylle kylle.

1483 Cath. Angl. 110/2 A Dukke, anas.

Verb–

@OED

I. intr.
1.
a. To plunge or dive, or suddenly go down under water, and emerge again; to dip the head rapidly under water.

c1340 Cursor M. (Trin.) 23203 He þat doukeþ ones þer doun

II. trans.

3. To plunge (a person or thing) momentarily in, into, or under water or other liquid.
   a1300 Cursor Mundi 23203 He that es duked ans dun.