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penguin

[ peng-gwin, pen- ]
/ ˈpɛŋ gwɪn, ˈpɛn- /

noun Ornithology.

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

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Origin of penguin

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

Words nearby penguin

pen friend, Peng Dehuai, Penghu, pengö, Pengpu, penguin, penholder, -penia, penicil, penicillamine, penicillate
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for penguin

British Dictionary definitions for penguin

penguin
/ (ˈpɛŋɡwɪn) /

noun

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 barbsSee also emperor penguin, king penguin
an obsolete name for great auk

Word Origin for penguin

C16: perhaps from Welsh pen gwyn, from pen head + gwyn white
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012