penguin

English Online Dictionary. What means penguin‎? What does penguin mean?

English

Alternative forms

• pinguin (obsolete)

Etymology

Uncertain. First attested in the 16th century in reference to the auk of the Northern hemisphere; the word was later applied to the superficially similar birds of the Southern hemisphere (as was woggin). Possibly from Welsh pen (“head”) and gwyn (“white”), or from Latin pinguis (“fat”). See citations and the Wikipedia article.

Sense 3 originates from the often black-and-white habit worn by nuns, which resemble the bird's colors.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpɛŋɡwɪn/
• (pin–pen merger, Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈpɪŋɡwɪn/
• Rhymes: -ɛŋɡwɪn, -ɪŋɡwɪn

Noun

penguin (plural penguins)

1. Any of several flightless sea birds, of the family Spheniscidae within the order Sphenisciformes, found in the Southern Hemisphere, marked by their usual upright stance, walking on short legs, and (generally) their stark black and white plumage. [from 16th c.]
2. (obsolete or historical) An auk (sometimes especially a great auk), a bird of the Northern Hemisphere.
4. (slang) A nun. (Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this sense?)
5. (juggling) A type of catch where the palm of the hand is facing towards the leg with the arm stretched downward, resembling the flipper of a penguin.
6. A spiny bromeliad with egg-shaped fleshy fruit, Bromelia pinguin.
7. (UK, military, slang) A member of the air force who does not fly aircraft.

Derived terms

Descendants

Translations

References

Further reading

• Penguin in the 1921 edition of Collier's Encyclopedia.