Duct tape is a silver-colored strong adhesive tape, usually a few inches wide, that is used to repair a multitude of things. It is specifically manufactured to join heating and air conditioning duct work, though the uses for duct tape are uncountable. Duct tape is a noun that has also come into use as a verb, related words are duct tapes, duct taped and duct taping.
Duck tape is a name brand of duct tape. The company history states that this tape was originally manufactured as a waterproof tape for the American military in WWII. Because of this tape’s ability to allow water to run off of it “like a duck’s back”, military personnel referred to it as duck tape. Soldiers also found that though the tape was made to keep moisture out of ammunition cases, they could also use duck tape for jeep repair, strapping equipment to their clothes, etc. When the war ended, duck tape made its way into the housing boom where it was used on air ducts, so its original color of military green was changed to silver. Today, Duck and other brands of duct tape come in may colors, suitable for crafting and other uses. The preferred generic word for this tape seems to be duct tape, though if one is referring to a Duck brand tape, then Duck tape with an uppercase “D” would be accurate.
Examples
“Celebrity Big Brother” star Courtney Stodden recently shared three sizzling photos of herself wearing a homemade bikini crafted completely out of purple duct tape. (The New York Daily News)
Butler County Juvenile Court Judge Ron Craft can finally toss out the duct tape they have been using to patch the worn and torn carpeting at the Juvenile Justice Center. (The Journal News)
Lamborghini Huracán supercar owner uses DUCT TAPE to patch up damaged motor and is pulled over by cops (The Mirror)
Comments are closed.