The spelling of the word "Pettengill" can be somewhat tricky to discern, as it does not follow typical English spelling patterns. Using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), we can break down the pronunciation of this word as /pɛt-ən-gɪl/. The "e" in the first syllable is pronounced as "eh", the "en" in the second syllable is pronounced with a schwa sound, and the "gill" at the end is pronounced with a hard "g" and a short "i" sound. Overall, the spelling may be confusing, but the IPA transcription helps to clarify its pronunciation.
The word "Pettengill" is a surname of English origin. It is derived from the Old English word "Petra", meaning "rock", and the suffix "-inga", denoting "belonging to", and "gil", meaning "ravine" or "gill". As a compound name, "Pettengill" can be interpreted as "belonging to the ravine of the rock".
It is important to note that surnames often have different etymologies and can vary between families. The specific origin of the surname "Pettengill" may differ for different individuals or families.