duck's ass
Very low (archaic/historical)Informal, slang, historical. Considered dated and non-standard.
Definition
Meaning
A specific mid-20th century men's haircut, where hair is styled back from the forehead and sides, with a central ridge of hair slicked back along the crown meeting the back hair, creating a vertical parting or seam that resembles a duck's tail.
The term refers almost exclusively to the haircut (also known as the 'DA'), which was popular among certain youth subcultures like greasers and teddy boys in the 1950s. It is a period-specific cultural artifact.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is a compound noun where 'duck's' is the possessive form. It is a visual metaphor comparing the central line/part in the slicked-back hair to the appearance of a duck's rear feathers. It carries strong mid-20th-century youth culture connotations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term was used on both sides of the Atlantic, closely associated with the 1950s rock and roll and greaser subculture. In the UK, it was particularly linked to the 'Teddy Boy' style.
Connotations
Retro, rebellious (for its time), working-class youth identity. Now evokes nostalgia or historical context.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary usage outside of historical discussions of fashion or pop culture.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + has/had/wore + a duck's ass[Subject] + got + a duck's ass haircutVocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical, sociological, or cultural studies contexts discussing 1950s fashion or youth subcultures.
Everyday
Virtually never used in contemporary everyday conversation. Would be understood only by older generations or pop culture enthusiasts.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts (e.g., hairdressing manuals might use 'ducktail' or describe the technique).
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- He had a proper duck's-ass haircut.
- That's a very duck's-ass style.
American English
- He rocked a classic duck's-ass look.
- The barber specialized in duck's-ass cuts.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My grandfather had a duck's ass when he was young.
- This photo shows a man with a duck's ass haircut.
- The duck's ass, or DA, was a defining feature of the greaser aesthetic in the 1950s.
- You need a lot of pomade to maintain a proper duck's ass.
- Cultural historians often cite the duck's ass haircut as a symbol of post-war teenage rebellion and identity formation.
- The meticulous construction of the duck's ass served as a ritualistic practice within the subculture.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a 1950s greaser combing his hair so perfectly that the line down the back looks like the pointed tail feathers of a duck.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE HAIR IS A DUCK'S TAIL (visual resemblance mapping shape and form).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation ('утиная задница') as it will be nonsensical and vulgar. The term is a fixed cultural reference. Use описательный перевод: 'причёска "утиный хвост"' or historic 'причёска в стиле грейзеров'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to describe any slicked-back hair (it's a specific style).
- Using it in formal contexts.
- Spelling as 'duck ass' without the possessive 's'.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'duck's ass' primarily?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not inherently offensive, but it is very informal slang and contains a vulgar word ('ass'). It is dated and would be unusual in polite conversation, but its offensiveness derives from the word 'ass' itself.
Historically, it was almost exclusively a men's style. While the slicked-back look can be adapted, the specific term 'duck's ass' is strongly associated with mid-20th-century men's fashion.
A pompadour features hair brushed up and away from the face, high on the forehead. A duck's ass is brushed straight back from the forehead and sides, with the back hair meeting in a central seam. They are different styles, though both used pomade and were part of the same era.
Extremely rarely. A modern barber might refer to a 'slick back' or 'undercut with a slick back'. A client asking for a 'duck's ass' would be making a specific historical reference.