penguin
noun/ˈpɛŋ.ɡwɪn/ · /ˈpɪŋ.ɡwɪn/
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. Etymology 1 sense 3 originates from the often black-and-white habit worn by nuns, which resemble the bird's colors.
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.
- Here are also birds cal'd Pen-gwins (white-head in Welch) like Pigmies walking upright, their finns or wings hanging very orderly downe like sleeves […]1638, Thomas Herbert, Some Yeares Travels, section I:
Historical, Obsolete An auk (sometimes especially a great auk), a bird of the Northern Hemisphere.
- This last species of penguin, or auk, seems to be the same with the alca cirrhata of Dr. Pallis, Spicileg. Zool. Fasc. v. p. 7. tab. i. & v. fig. 1–3. F.1772 March, “Account of the Settlement of the Malouines”, in The Gentleman's and London Magazine, page 166:
- More than a hundred years ago, for example, was seen the last of the great wingless penguins or auks, which early writers quaintly called " wobble-birds."1885, Journal of the American Geographical Society of New York:
Slang A nun.
- Jake (John Belushi): What are we doing here? Elwood (Dan Aykroyd): You promised you'd visit the penguin the day you got out. Jake: Yeah. So, I lied to her. Elwood:You can't lie to a nun. We gotta go in and visit the penguin.1980, Dan Aykroyd, The Blues Brothers (motion picture):
Arts, Hobbies, Juggling, Lifestyle, Performing arts, Sports 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.
- Although it is a permanent R.A.F. station (pre-war, that is), we meander about, even in the Mess, in battle dress and flying boots, sweaters, etc., much to the disgust of some of the more dignified 'penguins' […]1942, Hermann Hagedorn, Sunward I've Climbed, page 143:
- Notwithstanding his elevated status as the wing’s Senior Intelligence Officer, Monty, too, was a “penguin,” equal in that respect to an armament assistant, airframe mechanic, pigeon loftsman or any of the seventy-odd ground trades listed by the Royal Canadian Air Force at the war’s end.1994, Monty Berger, Invasions without tears: the story of Canada's top-scoring Spitfire wing in Europe during the Second World War, →ISBN, →LCCN, page xi:
2 more examples
- She may have been a “penguin”—an Air Force service member who didn't fly—but it sure beat being at home, as Brady had pointed out.2015 June 1, Kate Christie, In the Company of Women, Bella Books, →ISBN, →OCLC:
- This was to be my home for three months where ground officer cadets, referred to colloquially as ‘penguins’ were trained.2019 November 5, Derek Esp, An Adventure in Education: The Autobiography of an Accidental Career in Education, Troubador Publishing Ltd, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 46:
- Derived terms
40 terms
Adelie penguin, African penguin, banded penguin, brush-tailed penguin, Chatham Island penguin, Chatham Islands penguin, chinstrap penguin, crested penguin, embrace the penguin, emperor penguin, erect-crested penguin, fairy penguin, Fiordland penguin, Galapagos penguin, Galápagos penguin, gentoo penguin, Humboldt penguin, jackass penguin, king penguin, little penguin, macaroni penguin, Magellanic penguin, penguinarium, penguin diagram, penguinery, penguinese, penguinesque, penguinish, penguinlike, penguinone, penguinry, penguin suit, penguin trainer, Ridgen's penguin, rockhopper penguin, royal penguin, Snares penguin, Waitaha penguin, white-flippered penguin, yellow-eyed penguin