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rorqual

(rôr′kwəl)

noun

any of a family (Balaenopteridae) of baleen whales with a well-developed dorsal fin and longitudinal furrows on its belly and throat; esp., any of a genus (Balaenoptera) that includes the sei whale and blue whale

Origin: Fr < Norw röyrkval < ON reytharhvalr < reythr, rorqual (prob. akin to rautha < IE base *reudh-, red) + hvalr, whale: hence lit., red whale, from the reddish streaks in the skin

See rorqual in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Any of several baleen whales of the family Balaenopteridae having longitudinal grooves on the throat and a small, pointed dorsal fin. Also called razorback.

Origin:

Origin: French

Origin: , from Norwegian rørhval

Origin: , from Old Norse reydharhvalr

Origin: : reydhr, rorqual (from raudhr, red; see reudh- in Indo-European roots)

Origin: + hvalr, whale

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