'Milkshake Duck' is a dictionary's 2017 word of the year, and damn right

Last year had a reappearing internet phenomena: The "Milkshake Duck."

The term has been named 2017's word of the year by Australia's Macquarie Dictionary, as of Monday. "Milkshake Duck" comes to define internet idols who become dizzyingly viral, only to fall just as fast due to their unpleasant backstories.

Coined by cartoonist Pixelated Boat in a June 2016 tweet, the term comes from a tale about a duck who drinks milkshakes. The duck turns out to be racist.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

In the most recent case of "Milkshake Duck," the teary video of 11-year-old bullying victim Keaton Jones was shared widely, receiving support from celebrities and the media. Barely a day later, Facebook posts from Jones' mother standing in front of the Confederate flag were unearthed.

Then there's the tale of Ken Bone, who once charmed America with his red sweater, undone by his problematic commenting history. Or Chewbacca Mom, who began charging for autographs.

"Even if you don't know the word, you know the phenomenon," the dictionary's committee explained in a blog post.

"Milkshake duck stood out as being a much needed term to describe something we are seeing more and more of, not just on the internet but now across all types of media. It plays to the simultaneous desire to bring someone down and the hope that they won’t be brought down. In many ways it captures what 2017 has been about.

"There is a hint of tall poppy syndrome in there, which we always thought was a uniquely Australian trait, but has been amplified through the internet and become universalised."

The racist, milkshake-loving duck finally has the accolades it deserves, after narrowly missing out to the questionable "youthquake" in Oxford Dictionary's word of the year.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.