4 ms·
Duck Tape is the brand name of the original product. "Duct tape" is the generic name that the industry settled on. ("Duck" refers to the water-resistant nature
by wtracy 7y ago
Duck Tape is the brand name of the original product. "Duct tape" is the generic name that the industry settled on.
("Duck" refers to the water-resistant nature of the tape. Duct doesn't actually mean anything other than sounding like "duck". Ironically, duct tape is the wrong type of tape to use on heating ducts.)
If you're going to be pedantic, then get it right. ;-)
- IshKebab 7y agoActually I just looked it up and it's "duck" because it was made from "cotton duck", a type of fabric.
- rconti 7y agonow I just think somebody's getting trolled :D
- dec0dedab0de 7y agoWow, I always thought it was duct tape because it was originally made for taping ducts. And that duck tape was just a brand name like gorilla glue. Thanks for that.
- rconti 7y agoHuh, I thought Duck Tape was a NEW brand that came out to capitalize on the generic duct tape. Thanks!
- wtracy 7y agoReading Wikipedia's article has me questioning the information in my above post. According to Wikipedia, the name comes from it being manufactured from "cotton duck" (not because water rolls off it like a duck). Then a derived product became popular for wrapping air ducts, and the name evolved to duct tape. Then someone trademarked "Duck Tape" and revived the old name. I'm not sure anymore about the true origins of the terms, but I still maintain that "duck tape" and "duct tape" are both acceptable names (trademark issues aside).