grampus
pronunciation
How to pronounce grampus in British English:
UK ['græmpəs]
How to pronounce grampus in American English:
US [ 'græmpəs]
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- Noun:
- predatory black-and-white toothed whale with large dorsal fin; common in cold seas
- slaty-gray blunt-nosed dolphin common in northern seas
Word Origin
- grampus (n.)
- a word applied to killer whales and other large, dolphin-like creatures, 1590s, earlier graundepose (1520s), altered (by influence of grand) from Middle English graspeys (late 13c.), from Anglo-French grampais, from Old French graspois, craspois "whale, (salted) whale meat; blubber; seal," from Medieval Latin craspicis, literally "great fish" or "fat fish," from Latin crassus "thick" + piscis "fish" (see fish (n.)). For specifics of usage in English, see OED.
Example
- 1. The stairs made him puff like a grampus .