But it was the name which really grabbed my attention – gentoo.
The OED suggests it may (how?) have come originally from a word used to describe some of the inhabitants of India, first recorded in 1638, albeit with a different spelling: Three hundred slaves whom the Persians bought in India; Parsees, Jentews ... and others.
Shows how tricky etymology can be – that spelling seems to suggest a connection with Jews, but the etymology is the same as that of gentile.
And why on earth is its proper scientific name Pygoscelis papua? The only origin I can find for papua is 'A native or inhabitant of Papua; also formerly an Australian Aborigine' areas where I believe penguins are unknown.
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