Pronunciation: [dˈʌkɪŋ] (IPA) 
The spelling of the word "ducking" might seem confusing, as it contains the letter "u" twice but is pronounced with only one vowel sound. However, this can be explained through the use of IPA phonetic transcription. The first vowel sound is represented by the letter "u" and pronounced as /ʌ/. The second vowel sound is represented by the letter "i" and pronounced as /ɪ/. Therefore, the correct IPA transcription for "ducking" is /ˈdʌkɪŋ/.
Ducking is a verb that refers to the act of lowering one's head or body quickly to avoid being struck or hit by something. It is a defense mechanism employed to evade or protect oneself from impending danger or harm. The term can also be used metaphorically to describe avoiding or evading a difficult or uncomfortable situation.
In a physical sense, ducking typically involves bending at the waist or lowering the body while keeping the head down. It is commonly used to dodge projectiles, such as a thrown object or an incoming blow. For example, if someone throws a ball in your direction, you may instinctively duck to prevent the ball from hitting you.
Metaphorically, ducking can pertain to avoiding responsibility, unpleasant tasks, or uncomfortable conversations. It is often associated with evading scrutiny or accountability. For instance, if someone is constantly ducking calls from their creditors, it implies that they are avoiding the responsibility of paying their debts.
Ducking can also be used in the context of ducking under an obstacle or navigating through a crowded space with agility. For example, if you are weaving through a crowded street, you may need to duck or maneuver quickly to move past obstacles or pedestrians.
Overall, ducking involves quickly and purposefully lowering one's head or body, either physically or metaphorically, to avoid potential harm, confrontations, or difficulties.
Immersion in water.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "ducking" has two different etymologies, depending on its meaning.
1) As a noun referring to the waterfowl: The word "duck" has its roots in the Old English word "duce" or "duce", which is believed to be derived from the West Germanic word "dūkan". This word is further thought to be derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*dʰewgʰ-" meaning "to dive" or "to sink". Over time, the word evolved from "duce" to "dūce" to "duke" and finally to "duck".
2) As a verb meaning to lower one's head or body as a form of avoidance or protection: This meaning of "ducking" is derived from the Old English word "ducian", which originally meant "to dive" or "to plunge".
