There is a common misconception that Duck Tape is an incorrect name for Duct Tape, as most people believe that it was made for work on ducts and the duck name was made up. This is not true. Duck tape was originally developed during World War II by Johnson and Johnson for use by the military as a waterproof tape to use in sealing ammunition boxes. Because it was waterproof, it was called Duck Tape since it repelled water (like water off a ducks back). After the war, Johnson and Johnson discovered the tape had a lot of good uses, especially in sealing up heating and cooling ducts, so they made it silver to match ductwork (instead of the original army green) and marketed it under the name Duct Tape.

So there you have it, against popular belief, the original name was in fact Duck Tape.

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