one who, or that which, shovels.-a river duck (spatula clypeata), native of europe and america. it has a large bill, broadest towards the tip. the male is handsomely variegated with green, blue, brown, black, and white on the body; the head and neck are dark green. called also broadbill, spoonbill, shovelbill, and maiden duck. the australian shoveler, or shovel-nosed duck (s. rhynchotis), is a similar species.