penguin

 
Pronunciation: /ˈpɛŋgwɪn/

noun

  • a large flightless seabird of the southern hemisphere, with black upper parts and white underparts and wings developed into flippers for swimming under water.
    • Family Spheniscidae: six genera and several species

Origin:

late 16th century (originally denoting the great auk): possibly of Welsh origin, from pen gwyn 'white head'