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

Lineker would end his career with two injury-hit seasons with Japanese side Nagoya Grampus Eight.

From BBC

There were a few players at Grampus Eight who spoke excellent English too, like our Dutch keeper Dido Havenaar, who was a lovely guy and became a good friend.

From BBC

I did manage to play a few times more for Grampus, including one final appearance right at the end of my second season but by then I could hardly move, even with the help of more pain-killing injections.

From BBC

That was the start of discussions which led to me being offered a two-year contract to come and play in the new J-League, which was replacing an amateur league made up of corporate teams - Grampus Eight were formerly known as Toyota Motors, and were still being bankrolled by them.

From BBC

The day of my J-League debut for Nagoya Grampus Eight began with an earthquake where our whole hotel shook… and then we lost 5-0 and I didn't get a kick.

From BBC

Related Words

• mammal
• porpoise