porpoise

[ pawr-puhs ]

noun

, plural (especially collectively) por·poise, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) por·pois·es.

1. any of several small, gregarious cetacean mammals of the genus Phocoena, usually blackish above and paler beneath, and having a blunt, rounded snout, especially the common porpoise, P. phocoena, of both the North Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
2. any of several small cetacean mammals, as the common dolphin, Delphinus delphis.

verb (used without object)

, por·poised, por·pois·ing.

1. (of a speeding motorboat) to leap clear of the water after striking a wave.
2. (of a torpedo) to appear above the surface of the water.
3. to move forward with a rising and falling motion in the manner of a porpoise:

   The car has a tendency to porpoise when overloaded.

porpoise

/ ˈpɔːpəs /

noun

1. any of various small cetacean mammals of the genus Phocaena and related genera, having a blunt snout and many teeth: family Delphinidae (or Phocaenidae )
2. not in technical use any of various related cetaceans, esp the dolphin

Other Words From

• porpoise·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of porpoise¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English porpoys, from Middle French porpois, from unattested Vulgar Latin porcopiscis “hog fish,” for Latin porcus marīnus “sea hog”

Word History and Origins

Origin of porpoise¹

C14: from French pourpois, from Medieval Latin porcopiscus (from Latin porcus pig + piscis fish), replacing Latin porcus marīnus sea pig

Example Sentences

From time to time a porpoise swam up, and with a sudden roll disappeared below the scarcely ruffled surface.

From Project Gutenberg

There is a rotund, porpoise-shaped globular gentleman known of these parts as 'Bim the Button Man.'

From Project Gutenberg

Tad made a long, curving dive not unlike that of a porpoise.

From Project Gutenberg

The girls plump as a young porpoise, an shes mine, an Im going to keep her; you can lay to that!

From Project Gutenberg

They were like silver gulls escorting limitless schools of porpoise through placid waters.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• mammal