gentoo penguin
gentoo penguin Lexical Profile
• noun
A medium-to-large species of penguin (Pygoscelis papua) native to the Antarctic Peninsula and subantarctic islands, easily distinguished by a wide white stripe extending across the top of its head and a bright orange-red bill.
"The Gentoo penguin is renowned for being the fastest underwater swimmer among all penguins, reaching speeds of up to 22 miles per hour while hunting for krill."
Word Origin & Etymology
The word 'gentoo' is derived from the Portuguese 'gentio' (meaning 'gentile' or 'heathen'), originally used to describe Hindu inhabitants of India. Its application to the Antarctic bird is obscure, possibly adopted by sailors as a generic term for exotic creatures. 'Penguin' is thought to originate from the Welsh 'pen gwyn' (white head), initially referring to the now-extinct great auk.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.