penguin diagram

noun

A type of unicyclic Feynman diagram in which a quark temporarily changes flavor and engages in an interaction.

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Meanings

nounpenguin diagram (plural penguin diagrams)

plural penguin diagrams

  1. natural sciencesA type of unicyclic Feynman diagram in which a quark temporarily changes flavor and engages in an interaction.

Origin

Coined by John Ellis in 1977, based on the shape of the diagram and inspired by a bet made with Melissa Franklin to put the word "penguin" in his next paper.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

penguin diagram. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/penguin%20diagram

MLA

“penguin diagram.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/penguin%20diagram. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “penguin diagram,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/penguin%20diagram.

Source: penguin diagram on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.