<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by QF WP:
Wouldn't be some derivation of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) 4-letter code would it??
ie. E = Europe, Z = Zurich (I don't know, pulling at straws here)??</font>
Nothing that subtle. Just plane Milligan humour. Here is some of the transcript from he Goon Show in question:
(Characters:
S: Jim / Adolphus Spriggs
N: Neddie Seagoon)
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S: I'll just make out this bill of sale. How do you spell penguin?
N: P-N-Guin.
S: How do you pronounce it?
N: P-E-N-G-U-I-N.
S: I'll write that down. E-Z-L-X-Q. Drat this pen! It can't spell.
N: Wait a minute, perhaps it's the ink that can't spell. Let me taste it.
S: Righto Jim, righto Jim.
N: P-E-N-G- No, no, this ink's all right.
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and so it goes on.
I have remembered EZLXQ since my childhood as an alternate for spelling penguin. Unfortunately, my highschool English teacher didn't have the same respect for the Goons and failed to understand. Likewise, I failed English!