Meaning · Origin · Etymology
Gecko
gekoq
Malay (onomatopoeia)
“The lizard named for its call — 'gek-ko, gek-ko.'”
Gecko comes from Malay gekoq or tokek, imitating the lizard's distinctive call. The clicking 'gek-ko' sound echoes through Southeast Asian nights.
Different gecko species have different calls, but the tokay gecko's loud 'to-kay!' is the most famous. Some cultures consider hearing seven calls lucky.
The word entered English in the 1700s through colonial natural history. Now 'gecko' is the standard English name for the lizard family.
The Malay onomatopoeia became scientific vocabulary.
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Today
Gecko is now standard English — the wall-climbing lizard with the famous sticky feet. GEICO made it mascot famous.
The Malay imitation of a lizard's call became commercial icon.
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