gecko

Where does the word "gecko" come from? It comes from Malay gekoq, passing through Dutch before entering English (1700s-1800s).

Gecko’s story begins in Malay: gekoq meant “gecko lizard.” An imitative name mimicking the lizard's chirping call. By 1600s-1700s, the word had taken hold in Dutch as gekko. From Malay 'gekok', imitating the lizard's call. It reached English by 1700s-1800s as gecko. First recorded in English in 1774; earlier English spellings were 'chacco' (1711) and 'jackoa' (1727). Today, gecko means a small, often chirping lizard with adhesive toe pads.

1. Stage 1 · Malay · medieval gekoq "gecko lizard", an imitative name mimicking the lizard's chirping call.
2. Stage 2 · Dutch · 1600s-1700s gekko "gecko lizard", from Malay 'gekok', imitating the lizard's call.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1700s-1800s gecko "a small, chirping lizard", first recorded in English in 1774; earlier English spellings were 'chacco' (1711) and 'jackoa' (1727).