This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
narwhal
[ nahr-wuhl ]
/ ˈnɑr wəl /
Save This Word!
This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
noun
a small Arctic whale, Monodon monoceros, the male of which has a long, spirally twisted tusk extending forward from the upper jaw.
QUIZ
WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?
Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!
Question 1 of 7
Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.
Also narwal, nar·whale [nahr-hweyl, -weyl]. /ˈnɑrˌʰweɪl, -ˌweɪl/.
Origin of narwhal
First recorded in 1650–60; from Scandinavian; compare Norwegian, Swedish, Danish nar(h)val, reshaped from Old Norse nāhvalr, equivalent to nār “corpse” + hvalr whale1; allegedly so called because its skin resembles that of a human corpse
OTHER WORDS FROM narwhal
nar·whal·i·an [nahr-hwey-lee-uhn, -wey-, -wol-ee-], /nɑrˈʰweɪ li ən, -ˈweɪ-, -ˈwɒl i-/, adjectiveWords nearby narwhal
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use narwhal in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for narwhal
narwhal
narwal narwhale (ˈnɑːˌweɪl)
/ (ˈnɑːwəl) /
noun
an arctic toothed whale, Monodon monoceros, having a black-spotted whitish skin and, in the male, a long spiral tusk: family Monodontidae
Word Origin for narwhal
C17: of Scandinavian origin; compare Danish, Norwegian narhval, from Old Norse nāhvalr, from nār corpse + hvalr whale, from its white colour, supposed to resemble a human corpse
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