duck, n.⁵ — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

duck n.⁵

[? its spout resembles a duck’s neck]

(US) a container used to bring back beer from the saloon.

1949

Monteleone Criminal Sl. (rev. edn).

rush the duck (v.) (also chase the duck)

to bring home beer in a bucket or pail.

1895		World (N.Y.) 21 July 31/1: Mr. Roosevelt having declared that the ‘growler’ shall not be ‘rushed’ or the ‘duck chased’ on the first day of the week commonly called Sunday.
1900		A.H. Lewis ‘Red Mike’ in Sandburrs 60: Mike gets d’ tip that Emmer’s got two bits [...] Mike wants her to spring her plant an’ chase d’ duck.
1905		Pensacola Jrnl (FL) 6 Oct. 6/3: He’s been hittin’ the can — chasin’ the duck.
1905		H. Green Actors’ Boarding House (1906) 2: I told yuh boys onct yuh couldn’t rush no duck in this house!