pilot whale

American  

noun

1. a small, common whale, Globicephala sieboldii, of tropical and temperate seas, having a bulbous head.

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pilot whale British  

noun

1. Also called: black whale, blackfish. any of several black toothed whales of the genus Globicephala, such as G. melaena, that occur in all seas except polar seas: family Delphinidae

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Etymology

Origin of pilot whale

First recorded in 1865–70

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pilot whale

Scientists have observed orcas mismothering before—an orca took in a baby pilot whale in 2021, for instance—but in these prior cases, the animal usually survives.

From National Geographic ● Oct. 30, 2023

In other words, Sædís was spending precious energy keeping this baby pilot whale around.

From Salon ● Mar. 9, 2023

However, fresh analysis of its skull and teeth, described by scientists in a newly published article in the journal Mammal Communications, confirmed it was a short-finned pilot whale - the first found in British waters.

From BBC ● Jan. 27, 2023

A pilot whale — technically a kind of dolphin — may be up to 20 feet long and weigh as much as two tons.

From New York Times ● Sep. 23, 2022

The dorsal fin, like that of the Atlantic pilot whale, is one of the species' most distinctive characteristics.

From Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises of the Western North Atlantic A Guide to Their Identification by David Caldwell

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