A canard can mean both, the horizontal control surface placed at the forward end of an airplane and the whole airplane of this configuration itself. Also, the term canard configuration is used to distinguish it from a conventional configuration.

The term comes indeed from the French word for ducks, since they also have a relatively rear wing location when they stretch out their necks in flight.

White duck in flight (picture source).

The airplanes built by the Wright Brothers were canards, as was the first all-metal airplane:

(picture source)

Reissner Ente, the first all-metal airplane, in flight (picture source)

A more modern example is the Speed Canard, which even uses this term in its name. Flying direction is to the right:

(picture source)

A canard can mean both, the horizontal control surface placed at the forward end of an airplane and the whole airplane of this configuration itself. Also, the term canard configuration is used to distinguish it from a conventional configuration.

The term comes indeed from the French word for ducks, since they also have a relatively rear wing location when they stretch out their necks in flight.

White duck in flight (picture source).

The airplanes built by the Wright Brothers were canards, as was the first all-metal airplane:

(picture source)

Reissner Ente, the first all-metal airplane, in flight (picture source)

A more modern example is the Speed Canard, which even uses this term in its name. Flying direction is to the right:

(picture source)

A canard can mean both, the control surface placed at the forward end of the airplane and the whole airplane of this configuration itself. Also, the term canard configuration is used to distinguish it from a conventional configuration.

The term comes indeed from the French word for ducks, since they also have a relatively rear wing location when they stretch out their necks in flight.

White duck in flight (picture source).

The airplanes built by the Wright Brothers were canards, as was the first all-metal airplane:

(picture source)

Reissner Ente, the first all-metal airplane, in flight (picture source)

A canard can mean both, the horizontal control surface placed at the forward end of an airplane and the whole airplane of this configuration itself. Also, the term canard configuration is used to distinguish it from a conventional configuration.

The term comes indeed from the French word for ducks, since they also have a relatively rear wing location when they stretch out their necks in flight.

White duck in flight (picture source).

The airplanes built by the Wright Brothers were canards, as was the first all-metal airplane:

(picture source)

Reissner Ente, the first all-metal airplane, in flight (picture source)

A more modern example is the Speed Canard, which even uses this term in its name. Flying direction is to the right:

(picture source)