Word Study
grampus
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun grampus has 2 senses
- grampus(n = noun.animal) killer, killer whale, orca, orcinus orca, sea wolf - predatory black-and-white toothed whale with large dorsal fin; common in cold seas; Array is a kind of dolphin
- grampus(n = noun.animal) grampus griseus - slaty-grey blunt-nosed dolphin common in northern seas; Array is a kind of dolphin
is a member of genus orcinus, orcinus
is a member of genus grampus
CIDE DICTIONARY
grampus, n. [Probably corrupted from It. gran pesce great fish, or Sp. gran pez, or Pg. gran peixe, all fr. L. grandis piscis. See Grand, and Fish. the animal.].
- A toothed delphinoid cetacean, of the genus
Grampus , esp.G. griseus of Europe and America, which is valued for its oil. It grows to be fifteen to twenty feet long; its color is gray with white streaks. Called alsocowfish . The California grampus isG. Stearnsii . [1913 Webster] - A kind of tongs used in a bloomery.
OXFORD DICTIONARY
grampus, n. (pl. grampuses)
1 a dolphin, Grampus griseus, with a blunt snout and long pointed black flippers.
2 a person breathing heavily and loudly.
1 a dolphin, Grampus griseus, with a blunt snout and long pointed black flippers.
2 a person breathing heavily and loudly.
Etymology
earlier graundepose, grapeys f. OF grapois etc. f. med.L craspiscis f. L crassus piscis fat fish
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