bombay duck
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A member of the Bombay regiments of the East India Company's army.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
For her sake he recounted his Indian experiences — told of his arrival in India; […] of the Bombay Ducks, that celebrated European regiment, of whom every man could drink a quart of rum a day, and fight a pitched battle if need were.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “bombay duck” mean?
A member of the Bombay regiments of the East India Company's army.
Is “bombay duck” formal or informal?
bombay duck is generally slang.