duck tape

Meanings

1. A kind of tape made from, or incorporating, cotton duck (type of fabric).
2. A type of multi-purpose heavy-duty adhesive tape.

Etymology

Originally (from late 19th century) from duck (“a tightly woven fabric”) + tape, due to the make-up of the tape. The adhesive tape now commonly known as "Duck tape" (a trademark in the United States) has its origins in a product first created for the US military during World War II,https://www.duckbrand.com/about and the word "duck" was later associated with the waterproof qualities of this tape, as in the idea of "water off a duck's back".http://www.octanecreative.com/ducttape/duckvsduct.html The terms "duck tape" and "duct tape" overlap in modern usage. According to one theory, the modern product was originally called "duck tape". The term "duct tape" was then later applied because of mishearing and/or because the product was used to join together pieces of duct-work. However, this chronology has been questioned due to lack of documented evidence that "duck tape" predates "duct tape" as a name for the modern product.http://archive.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/03/14/tale_of_the_tape/ The Duck Brand website itself refers to "Duck Tape® Brand Duct Tape",https://www.duckbrand.com/products/duck-tape using "Duck tape" as the brand name, and "duct tape" as a generic description of the type of product.