A type of penguin found in southern oceans, characterized by a white stripe across its head and reddish feet.
From Portuguese 'gentio' meaning gentile or pagan. Portuguese explorers named these penguins, possibly because their white head markings resembled something associated with non-Christian peoples, though the exact reference is unclear.
The Gentoo penguin's name is a rare case where scientific classification and colonial history collide—explorers literally named an Antarctic penguin species after a word meaning 'pagan,' and now climate scientists studying them use that colonial name without thinking about its origins.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.