What is "duncan"

from Gaelic donn "brown, dark" (see dun (adj.)) + ceann "head."

Duncan may refer to:

Duncan is a given name. It is an Anglicised form of the Gaelic Donnchadh. The final letter n in the Anglicised Duncan seems to be a result of confusion in the Latin form of the name—Duncanus—with the Gaelic word ceann, meaning "head". One opinion is that the Gaelic Donnchadh is composed of the elements donn, meaning "dark or dark-haired man" or "chieftain"; and cath, meaning "battle", together meaning "dark-haired or dark warrior". Another opinion is that the Gaelic Donnchadh is composed of the elements donn, meaning "brown"; and chadh, meaning "chief" or "noble".

Duncan is a surname. For the etymology of the surname Duncan this web page cites: Dictionary of American Family Names. Another opinion is that the Gaelic Donnchadh is composed of the elements donn, meaning "brown"; and chadh, meaning "chief" or "noble". In some cases when the surname originates in (Sligo) Ireland it is an Anglicised form of the Gaelic Ó Duinnchinn, meaning "descendant of Donncheann". The Gaelic Donncheann is a byname composed of the elements donn, meaning "brown-haired man" or "chieftain"; and ceann, meaning "head". The surname Duncan is represented in Scottish Gaelic as MacDhonnchaidh.

"Duncan" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Paul Simon. It was the third and final single from his second self-titled studio album (1972), released on Columbia Records. The song was also released as a single in July 1972 as "Duncan" b/w "Run That Body Down".

A ballad in E-minor, "Duncan" tells the story of Lincoln Duncan, a fisherman's son. An inability to fall asleep in a cheap motel due to the loud sex that a couple is having next door sends Duncan off on a long reverie. He recalls his decision to leave "the boredom and the chowder" of his hometown in the Canadian Maritime Provinces and head towards New England. He recalls running out of money, losing his virginity to a young female street preacher – "just like a dog I was befriended" – and finally lying on the ground at night and thanking God for his fingers while playing his guitar. Between the stanzas, the song features instrumental interludes, played on 2 flutes, by Los Incas, an Andean group which had previously collaborated with Simon & Garfunkel on " El Condor Pasa (If I Could)" in 1970.

"Duncan" peaked at #52 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in 1972.

A concert rendition featuring Urubamba performing the interludes was included on the 1974 album Paul Simon in Concert: Live Rhymin'. It gained radio airplay itself, and has gone on to become a semi-regular on satellite radio's Deep Tracks station. Simon has included the song in his set lists for some subsequent tours as well.

A demo version of the song appears as a bonus on the 2004 CD rerelease of the album. This version is shorter and faster, and has very different lyrics, yet displays the same melancholy tone as the released version.

The song was used in the 2006 film 10 Items or Less.

During a show in Toronto on May 7, 2011, Rayna Ford, a fan from Conception Bay, Newfoundland called out for Simon to play the song, and said something to the effect that she learned to play guitar on the song. Paul Simon invited her on stage, handed her a guitar and asked her to play it for the crowd.

The Duncan mango is a named for Taylor Duncan her personal fruit.

Duncan is a thoroughbred racehorse. He won the Irish St. Leger at the Curragh Racecourse in a dead heat with Jukebox Jury.

"Duncan" is an Australian single recorded in 1980 by Slim Dusty which reached No. 1 on the Kent Music Report charts for two weeks in early 1981. The song was Dusty's second-most successful single after " A Pub with No Beer". It is also known as "Beer with Duncan", "Have a Beer with Duncan" and "I Love to Have a Beer with Duncan". It was written by Pat Alexander.