The story
Noun sense 3 is referencing the courtship displays of Adélie penguins and Gentoo penguins, who present smooth pebbles used for nest building to their partners. Popularized on social media in 2024.
First known use, by meaning
- from 2020s In neurodivergent people, the act of offering small, meaningful gifts or gestures to express affection and establish social bonds.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.