grampus

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 tropical seas; also any of various small cetaceans 2. the giant whip scorpion (Mastigoproctus giganteus) of the southern United States

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • 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 — /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 …   Universalium

  • 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

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