Editing Rubber duck (section)

{{short description|Stylized, floating duck-shaped toy}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}{{Use Oxford spelling|date = January 2025}}

[[File:Rubber duckies So many ducks.jpg|thumb|Several modern rubber ducks]]

A '''rubber duck,''' or a '''rubber duckie,''' is a toy shaped like a [[duck]], that is usually yellow with a flat base. It may be made of rubber or rubber-like material such as [[vinyl plastic]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Rubber Duck|url=http://www.toyhalloffame.org/toys/rubber-duck|website=National Toy Hall of Fame|access-date=30 September 2014}}</ref> Rubber ducks were invented in the late 19th century when it became possible to more easily shape rubber,<ref>{{cite web |title=The history of rubber duck |date=13 January 2021 |url=https://www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk/articles/the-history-of-the-rubber-duck/ |publisher=St Neots Museum |access-date=31 March 2021}}</ref> and are believed to improve developmental skills in children during water play.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.toyhalloffame.org/toys/rubber-duck|title=Rubber Duck {{!}} National Toy Hall of Fame|website=www.toyhalloffame.org|access-date=2020-02-20}}</ref>

The yellow rubber duck has achieved an iconic status in [[Western World|Western]] [[popular culture|pop culture]] and is often symbolically linked to [[bathing]]. Various novelty variations of the toy are produced, and many organisations use yellow rubber ducks in [[rubber duck race]]s for fundraising worldwide.