grampus

grampus
/gram"peuhs/, n., pl. grampuses.
1. a cetacean, Grampus griseus, of the dolphin family, widely distributed in northern seas.
2. any of various related cetaceans, as the killer whale, Orcinus (Orca) orca.
3. a giant whip scorpion common to Florida.
[1520-30; earlier grampoys, var. (by assimilation) of graundepose great fish, equiv. to graunde GRAND + pose, poys < MF pois, peis < L pisce- (s. of piscis) fish; r. ME gra(s)peis < MF L crassus piscis fat fish]

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▪ mammal
also called  Risso's dolphin 
 a common offshore inhabitant of tropical and temperate ocean waters, a member of the dolphin family (Delphinidae). The grampus measures about 4 metres (approximately 13 feet) in length and has a blunt head and a distinct longitudinal forehead crease. It is unique among dolphins in usually having no upper teeth and from zero to seven teeth in the lower jaw. Older males are heavily scarred about the head and trunk, apparently owing to encounters with other grampuses.

      The term grampus is derived from the Latin terms for “great” (grandis) and “fish” (piscis), and it has been applied over the centuries to many large fish and also to some other cetaceans (cetacean)—including the killer whale (Orcinus orca), which is also a member of family Delphinidae.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Grampus — Grampus …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Grampus — may mean: *A common name historically used for the orca *Grampus, the genus that includes Risso s Dolphin as its only species *CSS Grampus , a Confederate river steamer *USS Grampus , the name of a number of ships of the United States Navy *HMS… …   Wikipedia

  • Grampus — Gram pus, n.; pl. {Grampuses}. [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.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) A toothed delphinoid cetacean, of the genus… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • grampus — [gram′pəs] n. pl. grampuses [earlier graundepose, altered (after GRAND) < ME grapays < OFr graspeis < L crassus piscis < crassus, fat (see CRASS) + piscis, FISH] 1. a playful, black and white dolphin (Grampus griseus) 2. KILLER WHALE …   English World dictionary

  • Grampus — Grampus, so v.w. Butzkopf, s. Delphin 1) D) …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • grampus — 1590s, earlier graundepose (1520s), altered (by influence of grand) from M.E. graspeys (late 13c.), from Anglo Fr. grampais, from O.Fr. graspois, craspois whale, (salted) whale meat; blubber; seal, from M.L. craspicis, lit. fat fish, from L.… …   Etymology dictionary

  • grampus — ► NOUN (pl. grampuses) ▪ a killer whale or other cetacean of the dolphin family. ORIGIN alteration (by association with GRAND(Cf. ↑grandness)) of Old French grapois, from Latin crassus piscis fat fish …   English terms dictionary

  • grampus — pilkasis delfinas statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Grampus griseus angl. grampus; grey dolphin; grey grampus; mottled grampus; Risso’s dolphin; Risso’s white headed grampus; white headed dolphin vok.… …   Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas

  • grampus — orc orc ([^o]rk), n. [L. orca, a kind of whale: cf. F. orque.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) Any of several cetaceans, especialy the {grampus} ({Grampus griseus}) of the dolphin family. [Written also {ork} and {orch}.] Milton. [1913 Webster] An island salt and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • grampus — noun Etymology: alteration of Middle English graspey, grapay, from Anglo French graspeis, from gras fat (from Latin crassus) + peis fish, from Latin piscis more at crass, fish Date: circa 1529 1. a dolphin (Grampus griseus) of temperate and… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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