grampus

[ gram-puhs ]

/ ˈgræm pəs /

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noun, plural gram·pus·es.

a cetacean, Grampus griseus, of the dolphin family, widely distributed in northern seas.

any of various related cetaceans, as the killer whale, Orcinus (Orca) orca.

a giant whip scorpion common to Florida.

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Origin of grampus

1520–30; earlier grampoys, variant (by assimilation) of graundepose great fish, equivalent to graundegrand + pose, poys<Middle French pois, peis<Latin pisce- (stem of piscis) fish; replacing Middle English gra(s)peis<Middle French ≪ Latin crassus piscis fat fish

Words nearby grampus

Grampian Mountains, Grampian Region, Grampians, Gram-positive, gramps, grampus, Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization, Gramsci, Gram's method, Gram's solution, Gram's stain

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use grampus in a sentence

No craft like the Grampus could work through a floe, What knots she could run, and what tons she could stow!
The Book of Humorous Verse|Various
Not a man had deserted, and Grampus gave me a favourable account of the behaviour of all hands.
Hurricane Hurry|W.H.G. Kingston
As soon as the prisoners had shoved off, I sent the boat back to the tender, and Grampus and two men returned in her.
Hurricane Hurry|W.H.G. Kingston
Grampus, who had charge of the deck while I was below, watched them narrowly, and did not differ with me as to their character.
Hurricane Hurry|W.H.G. Kingston

I saw to everything myself, or sent Grampus to ascertain that people were losing no time in executing my orders.
Hurricane Hurry|W.H.G. Kingston

British Dictionary definitions for grampus

grampus

/ (ˈɡræmpəs) /

noun plural -puses

a widely distributed slaty-grey dolphin, Grampus griseus, with a blunt snout

another name for killer whale

Word Origin for grampus

C16: from Old French graspois, from gras fat (from Latin crassus) + pois fish (from Latin piscis)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

grampus

Origin of grampus

Words nearby grampus

Words related to grampus

How to use grampus in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for grampus

Word Origin for grampus