penguin

[ peng-gwin, pen- ]

noun

Ornithology.

1. any of several flightless, aquatic birds of the family Spheniscidae, of the Southern Hemisphere, having webbed feet and wings reduced to flippers.
2. Obsolete. great auk.

penguin

/ ˈpɛŋɡwɪn /

noun

1. any flightless marine bird, such as Aptenodytes patagonica (king penguin) and Pygoscelis adeliae ( Adélie penguin ), of the order Sphenisciformes of cool southern, esp Antarctic, regions: they have wings modified as flippers, webbed feet, and feathers lacking barbs See also emperor penguin king penguin
2. an obsolete name for great auk

Word History and Origins

Origin of penguin¹

1570–80; origin uncertain; perhaps < Welsh pen gwyn literally, white head (referring to the great auk in its winter plumage); later misapplied to the Spheniscidae

Word History and Origins

Origin of penguin¹

C16: perhaps from Welsh pen gwyn, from pen head + gwyn white

Example Sentences

But the country is still reeling from the latest one: emergency tariffs imposed on every country in the world, including islands inhabited primarily by penguins.

From Salon

An "unsecured" penguin in a cardboard box was the cause of a helicopter crash in South Africa, a report into the incident has found.

From BBC

Heard Island and McDonald Islands, populated by penguins and seals and also subject to the tariffs, offered no comment.

From Salon

The US Commerce Secretary has defended the country's decision to impose tariffs on a group of uninhabited islands, which are populated only by penguins and seals.

From BBC

This is why the surreal stories about the US tariffing rarely visited islands only inhabited by penguins matter.

From BBC