walrus

American  

[wawl-ruhs, wol-] / ˈwɔl rəs, ˈwɒl- /

noun

plural

walruses,

plural

walrus

1. a large marine mammal, Odobenus nosmarus, of Arctic seas, related to the seals, and having flippers, a pair of large tusks, and a tough, wrinkled skin.

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walrus British  

/ ˈwɔːlrəs, ˈwɒl- /

noun

1. a pinniped mammal, Odobenus rosmarus, of northern seas, having a tough thick skin, upper canine teeth enlarged as tusks, and coarse whiskers and feeding mainly on shellfish: family Odobenidae

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Usage

Plural word for walrus The plural form of walrus is walruses.  The plurals of several other singular words ending in -us are also formed in this way, such as virus/viruses, sinus/sinuses, and syllabus/syllabuses. In some words derived from Latin that end in -us, the irregular plural ending -i may be used instead, as in fungus/fungi and cactus/cacti. However, this ending is not valid for walrus. Walri would be an invalid plural form for walrus.

Etymology

Origin of walrus

First recorded in 1645–55; from Dutch: literally, “whale horse”; cognate with German Walross, Danish hvalros; compare Old English horshwæl “horse-whale”

Explanation

A walrus is a large mammal that lives in the sea and has big flippers and very long tusks. If you'd like to keep a walrus for a pet, you'll need a big pool full of salt water and plenty of clams, a walrus's favorite snack. Walruses are very distinctive, both for their tusks and whiskers and their size: some male walruses weigh over 2,000 pounds. They are extremely important in Arctic indigenous culture and are referenced frequently in Western culture as well. A couple of famous examples are Lewis Carroll's oyster-eating walrus in "The Walrus and the Carpenter." and the mysterious reference in the Beatles' "I Am the Walrus."

Example Sentences

Walrus survived in some areas of the Atlantic located further to the south, and as soon as climates warmed again, the ice edge retreated and walrus populations pushed quickly northwards again.

From Science Daily • Sep. 27, 2023

As Heroes of Liberty was born, Johnny the Walrus, by Matt Walsh, became a huge Amazon bestseller.

From Slate • Mar. 16, 2023

Just a few of the restaurants on tap are Lola, Civility & Unrest, The Lakehouse and The Walrus and the Carpenter.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 19, 2022

It also includes a magnolia tree, which Jung mentioned in the essay, and a walrus, a nod to the titular subject of the Beatles' I Am The Walrus.

From BBC • Jul. 9, 2022

He loved the music so much that two other medics, Stringer and the Walrus, pulled him to his feet and even got him to mouth the words.

From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge