What is "to play at ducks and drakes"

Duck \Duck\, n. [OE. duke, doke. See Duck, v. t. ]

1. (Zool.) Any bird of the subfamily Anatin[ae], family Anatid[ae].

   Note: The genera and species are numerous. They are divided into river ducks and sea ducks. Among the former are the common domestic duck ( Anas boschas); the wood duck ( Aix sponsa); the beautiful mandarin duck of China ( Dendronessa galeriliculata); the Muscovy duck, originally of South America ( Cairina moschata). Among the sea ducks are the eider, canvasback, scoter, etc.

2. A sudden inclination of the bead or dropping of the person, resembling the motion of a duck in water. Here be, without duck or nod, Other trippings to be trod. --Milton. Bombay duck (Zo["o]l.), a fish. See Bummalo. Buffel duck, Spirit duck. See Buffel duck. Duck ant (Zo["o]l.), a species of white ant in Jamaica which builds large nests in trees. Duck barnacle. (Zo["o]l.) See Goose barnacle. Duck hawk. (Zo["o]l.)

   1. In the United States: The peregrine falcon.

   2. In England: The marsh harrier or moor buzzard.

      Duck mole (Zo["o]l.), a small aquatic mammal of Australia, having webbed feet and a bill resembling that of a duck ( Ornithorhynchus anatinus). It belongs the subclass Monotremata and is remarkable for laying eggs like a bird or reptile; -- called also duckbill, platypus, mallangong, mullingong, tambreet, and water mole.

      To make ducks and drakes, to throw a flat stone obliquely, so as to make it rebound repeatedly from the surface of the water, raising a succession of jets; hence:

      To play at ducks and drakes, with property, to throw it away heedlessly or squander it foolishly and unprofitably.

      Lame duck. See under Lame.