grampus

[ gram-puhs ]

noun

, plural gram·pus·es.

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.

grampus

/ ˈɡræmpəs /

noun

1. a widely distributed slaty-grey dolphin, Grampus griseus, with a blunt snout
2. another name for killer whale

Word History and Origins

Origin of grampus¹

1520–30; earlier grampoys, variant (by assimilation) of graundepose great fish, equivalent to graunde grand + pose, poys < Middle French pois, peis < Latin pisce- (stem of piscis ) fish; replacing Middle English gra ( s ) peis < Middle French ≪ Latin crassus piscis fat fish

Word History and Origins

Origin of grampus¹

C16: from Old French graspois, from gras fat (from Latin crassus ) + pois fish (from Latin piscis )

Example Sentences

Other monikers are equally undignified: “snot otter,” “mud devil,” “grampus.”

From Washington Post

It h a menacing or amorous puff, similar to the grampus.

From Literature

A few years ago, an immense shoal of grampus were driven ashore at Antigua during a season of stormy weather, and by the oil they yielded, became a valuable prize.

From Project Gutenberg

“And how do you know a grampus does?” asked McBain, smiling.

From Project Gutenberg

On the 26th of December we saw several albicores, dolphins, and grampus, and shoals of flying fish; lat. at noon 22.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• mammal
• porpoise