porpoise

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American Heritage Dictionary (2 definitions)

    –noun
  1. Any of several gregarious toothed whales of the genus Phocaena and related genera, of oceanic waters, characteristically having a blunt snout and a triangular dorsal fin. Also called sea hog.
  2. Any of several related aquatic mammals, such as the dolphin.

Century Dictionary (1 definition)

    –noun
  1. A small toothed cetacean of the family Delphinidæ and subfamily Delphiminæ, and especially of the genus Phoeæna, of which there are several species, the best-known being P. communis, which attains a length of about 5 feet and has a blunt head not produced into a long beak, and a thick body tapering toward the tail. It is common in the North Atlantic, and usually goes in herds or shoals. It feeds almost entirely on fish. A fine oil is prepared from its blubber, and the skin is made into leather; the flesh is eatable. Several genera and numerous species of small cetaceans share the name porpoise, among them the dolphin. See Delphinus, Lagenorhynchus, and Tursiops.

GNU Webster's 1913 (2 definitions)

    –noun
  1. Any small cetacean of the genus Phocæna, especially Phocæna communis, or Phocæna phocæna, of Europe, and the closely allied American species (Phocæna Americana). The color is dusky or blackish above, paler beneath. They are closely allied to the dolphins, but have a shorter snout. Called also harbor porpoise, herring hag, puffing pig, and snuffer.
  2. A true dolphin (Delphinus); -- often so called by sailors.

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Pronunciations

/ (pôrˈpəs)/
ahd pronounces "porpoise"
by American Heritage Dictionary

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Etymology

American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English porpeis, from Old French (probably translation of a Germanic compound meaning sea-pig) : porc, pig (from Latin porcus; see porko- in Indo-European roots) + peis, fish (from Latin piscis).

Century Dictionary

 

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Porpoise has been looked up 557 times, favorited once, listed 21 times, commented on 3 times, and has a Scrabble score of 12.

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