duct tape

Meanings

1. A generally gray waterproof adhesive tape used for many purposes and easy to cut with the hands.

1. To use duct tape in order to tape one object to another.

Etymology

Probably a corruption or eggcorn of earlier duck tape (“thick, canvas-like tape”), resulting from the relative obscurity of the term duck (“a strong, durable, tightly woven fabric; canvas-like material”), reinforced by the use of the tape in joining together heating and air conditioning duct work. See also the etymology at duck tape.