narwhale

Variant of narwhal

narwhal definition

nar·whal (närwəl, -hwəl)

noun

an arctic toothed whale (Monodon monoceros) of the same family (Monodontidae) as the beluga, valued for its oil and ivory: the male has a long, spiral tusk extending from the upper jaw
also narwal nar′·wal (-wəl) or narwhale nar′·whale′ (-hwāl′)

Etymology: < Scand, as in Norw & Dan narhval < ON nahvalr, lit., corpse (< IE base *nāu-, death, corpse) + hvalr, whale (with reference to the whitish underside)

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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