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.
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
peneus,
penfield,
peng dehuai,
penghu,
pengpu,
penguin,
pengö,
penholder,
penhsi,
penicil,
penicillamine
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 barbs
See 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