ðə nˈeɪm ɪz ˈɔːlsoʊ jˈuːzd tə dᵻskɹˈaɪb pˈɑːndwiːd ɔːɹ dˈʌkwiːd, wˌɪtʃ kæn fˈɔːɹm ɐ kəntˈɪnjuːəs mˈæt ˌoʊvɚ ðə sˈɜːfɪs əvə smˈɔːl bˈɑːdi ʌv wˈɔːɾɚ, mˌeɪkɪŋ ɪt mɪslˈiːdɪŋ ænd pətˈɛnʃəli tɹˈɛtʃɚɹəs, ɪspˈɛʃəli tʊ ʌnwˈɛɹi tʃˈɪldɹən.
The name is also used to describe pondweed or duckweed, which can form a continuous mat over the surface of a small body of water, making it misleading and potentially treacherous, especially to unwary children.