[Ads-l] duck tape, antedated?

[Rich Lowenthal]

The New York Times wrote about the duct/duck issue in 1992, saying in 
part:

(begin quote)

But as duct tape solves countless domestic problems, it creates one for 
language. It's what linguists call a juncture problem. "Duct" ends in 
"t" and "tape" begins with it; people tend to say "duck tape."

The term carries plausible connotations. Duct tape is rubbery, webbed 
and waterproof. If it doesn't have anything to do with ducks, it seems 
as though it should.

That's why Manco Tape Inc., aware that most folks now think of ducks 
instead of ducts when they purchase the product, has trademarked the 
name "Duck Tape." It packages the familiar gray tape with a bright label 
and a cartoon duck that resembles one of Donald Duck's nephews dressed 
for a weekend of home repair.

Thus does commerce infect language. Or does it? Manco executives point 
out that the tape evolved from a waterproof material used to seal 
ammunition boxes during World War II. It was made from a canvas-like 
fabric commonly used in the military -- and commonly known as cotton 
duck.

(end quote)

New York Times July 12, 1992, section 4, page 20.


------ Original Message ------
>From "Peter Reitan" <pjreitan at HOTMAIL.COM>
To ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Date 5/17/2025 19:45:11
Subject Re: duck tape, antedated?

>I found a newspaper  article that appears to be a fact-based discussion about the invention of duct tape, and the evolution of the word.
>
>Claims it was invented in WWII, as "duct" tape, using medical bandages as the cloth. Company evebtually changed its trade name to " duck" tape because people kept calling it ducktape.
>
>Article from Wilkes Barre Citizen's Voice, in 2000.
>
>https://www.newspapers.com/article/citizens-voice/172590415/
>
>
>________________________________
>From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of Stephen Goranson <0000179d4093b2d6-dmarc-request at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>Sent: Saturday, May 17, 2025 9:35:06 AM
>To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>Subject: Re: duck tape, antedated?
>
>---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
>Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>Poster:       Stephen Goranson <goranson at DUKE.EDU>
>Subject:      Re: duck tape, antedated?
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