Word of the Week: February 19, 2001
Why Penguins?

"Penguin Books" is a household trade name. But why penguins? And moreover, why Pelican Books, Peregrine Books, and Puffins and Ptarmigans? What's next, Peacocks and Peahens? (Don't tell me they are already being published!)

Well, the story goes that in 1935, Allen Lane, the founder of what was to be Penguin Books, was looking for a trademark, and his secretary suggested "Why not Penguins?" Hence the name. It did not hurt that the name went well with paperback with all those p's and b's in Penguin Paperback Books. And it did not hurt that penguins are cute and easy to draw in black and white. Then later on, Allen Lane heard someone mistakenly referring to the books as "Pelican Books," so out of fear of competition, he started Pelican Books himself. A linguist might be forgiven for calling them all preposterously plosive!

Words of the Week are written by Dr. Jacques A. Bailly.