Dictionary

duck's frost en · NOUN

Meanings

1. A slight frost visible in the morning; (jocularly) rain (overnight).
   • The weather most unsuitable is that kind of frost which comes on in the early morning, and is accompanied with some rime on the grass—a duck's frost, just sufficient to check fox-hunting. Every footstep on grass in this condition when the sun comes out burns up as black as if the sole of the boot were of red-hot iron, and the poacher leaves an indelible trail[…] 1880, Richard Jefferies, The gamekeeper at home, sketches of natural history and rural life [signed R.J.]., page 146:
   • '[…] duck's frost to-night.' Abel looked up absently, humming the air he intended to play next. 'I bin in the Callow, and I've gotten a primmyrose,' continued Hazel, accustomed to his ways, and not discouraged. 'And I got a bit of blackthorn[…] 2025 August 16 [????], Mary Gladys Meredith Webb, Gone to Earth: in large print, BoD – Books on Demand, →ISBN, page 8:
   • "Smartish frost and we shall get a duck's frost tonight. This is the third white un we've had." The shepherd then put one foot on one of the spokes of the waggon wheel and looked at his new hurdles. As he chewed his twist and spat I could see he wasn't too happy[…] 2009 July 15, Fred Archer, The Distant Scene, Amberley Publishing Limited, →ISBN:
   • A cooler lcimate has prevailed and some frost, but at the time of writing there has been more rain, which in the country is known as a duck's frost. At present there has been little skating, for the ice has been thin and unsafe. When the ponds are well frozen then the land is solid also, and this is the gardener's opportunity to cart the dung on to the fields.[…] 1899, The Agricultural Gazette and Modern Farming, page 133:

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