grampus

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“
a back formation meaning ` to blow like a grampus, 'can be given.

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Definitions (13)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (2)

  1. noun A cetacean (Grampus griseus) related to and resembling the dolphins but lacking a beaklike snout.
  2. noun Any of various similar cetaceans, such as the killer whale.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (8)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (1)

Toggle WordNet definitions WordNet (2)

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Examples

  • Nothing, I confess, now looks to me more completely out of character with our well-starched discipline than a “staid lieutenant” romping about the booms, skulling up the rigging, blowing the grampus, and having it blown upon him by a parcel of rattle-pated reefers. —  The Lieutenant and Commander
  • Waylander chuckled, then sat down before the Armour. —  Waylander
  • On the very top of the rock rested a palatial hacienda. —  Last Drop
  • a back formation meaning ` to blow like a grampus, 'can be given. —  VERBATIM: The Language Quarterly Vol 1 No 4
  • I puff like a grampus. —  The Mystery of the Missing Man
 

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Grampus has been looked up 214 times, favorited 0 times, listed 11 times, and commented on 3 times.

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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Alteration (perhaps influenced by grand) of Middle English graspeis, from Old French craspois, graspeis, from Medieval Latin crassus piscis, craspiscis : Latin crassus, fat + Latin piscis, fish.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. In the 17th century spelled grampasse and (accommodation to L.) grandpisces, plural; Middle English grapas, grapeys, grappays, for *granpays, from Spanish grand pez = Portuguese gran peixe = Italian gran pesce, a grampus, literally ‘great fish,’ from Latin grandis, great, + piscis = English fish: see grand and fish. Cf. porpoise, porpus, with the same terminal element.
 

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/ˈgræmpəs/
by American Heritage

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