porpoise

(pôr′pəs)

any of a family (Phocoenidae) of small, usually gregarious toothed whales found in most seas, with a torpedo-shaped body and a blunt snout
a dolphin or any of several small whales

Origin: ME porpoys < OFr porpeis, lit., swine fish < L porcus, pig (see farrow) + piscis, fish

See porpoise in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. porpoise porpoise or por·pois·es

Any of several gregarious toothed whales of the genus Phocaena and related genera, of oceanic waters, characteristically having a blunt snout and a triangular dorsal fin. Also called sea hog.
Any of several related aquatic mammals, such as the dolphin.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English porpeis

Origin: , from Old French (probably translation of a Germanic compound meaning sea-pig)

Origin: : porc, pig (from Latin porcus; see porko- in Indo-European roots)

Origin: + peis, fish (from Latin piscis)

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