𓅬

Glyph origin
Representing a waterfowl of uncertain species, likely the same as that referred to by the word in its stricter sense, or perhaps simply an abstraction intended to represent a prototypical waterfowl (and therefore bird). Gardiner considered it the white-fronted goose, but only one existing example of this hieroglyph shows details that certainly establish it to be of this species, so this may be attributable to an idiosyncrasy of a particular scribe. Other authors instead argue that the glyph is a duck on the basis of Faulkner’s arguments regarding the original meaning of.

The phonetic value of is derived by the rebus principle from its use as the determinative for a kind of goose,.

Usage notes
This glyph should not be confused with the extremely similar , which serves as a phonogram for  and depicts a pintail duck. However, in practice, it is sometimes impossible to tell which bird is represented; in such cases, either glyph can be chosen to transcribe the original.