humpback

[huhmp-bak]

noun

1. a back that is humped in a convex position.

2. kyphosis.

3. the humpback whale.

humpback

/ ˈhʌmpˌbæk /

noun

1. another word for hunchback

2. Also called: humpback whale. a large whalebone whale, Megaptera novaeangliae, closely related and similar to the rorquals but with a humped back and long flippers: family Balaenopteridae

3. a Pacific salmon, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, the male of which has a humped back and hooked jaws

4. Also called: humpback bridge. a road bridge having a sharp incline and decline and usually a narrow roadway

Other Word Forms

• humpbacked adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of humpback¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; apparently back formation from humpbacked

Word History and Origins

Origin of humpback¹

C17: alteration of earlier crumpbacked, perhaps influenced by _hunchback ; perhaps related to Dutch homp lump

Example Sentences

Martin's Wild Water Whales initiative uses various tech including drones to study key species such as blue and humpback whales.

Read more on Barron's

Picnic in our backpacks, my husband and I hiked in from the Palomarin Headlands — about 2.5 miles — along cliffs where you can spot gray and humpback whales, and shaded paths where dappled shadows dance.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Nets along the east coast also routinely entangle humpback whales on their annual migration to and from the tropics.

Read more on BBC

Juneau is arguably the whale watching capital of Alaska, with humpback whales traveling from Hawaii to the area every summer, along with resident and migratory orcas, so whale watching was high on our list.

Read more on Salon

"Whether it's sailing alongside humpback whales, or receiving greetings by fishermen on the Fiji islands, my boats allow me to sail… with strength and safety."

Read more on BBC