porpoise

[pawr-puhs]

noun

plural

porpoise ,

plural

porpoises .

1. any of several small, gregarious cetacean mammals of the genus Phocoena, usually blackish above and paler beneath, and having a blunt, rounded snout, especially the common porpoise, P. phocoena, of both the North Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

2. any of several small cetacean mammals, as the common dolphin, Delphinus delphis.

verb (used without object)

porpoised, porpoising 

1. (of a speeding motorboat) to leap clear of the water after striking a wave.

2. (of a torpedo) to appear above the surface of the water.

3. to move forward with a rising and falling motion in the manner of a porpoise.

   The car has a tendency to porpoise when overloaded.

porpoise

/ ˈpɔːpəs /

noun

1. any of various small cetacean mammals of the genus Phocaena and related genera, having a blunt snout and many teeth: family Delphinidae (or Phocaenidae )

2. (not in technical use) any of various related cetaceans, esp the dolphin

Other Word Forms

• porpoiselike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of porpoise¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English porpoys, from Middle French porpois, from unattested Vulgar Latin porcopiscis “hog fish,” for Latin porcus marīnus “sea hog”

Word History and Origins

Origin of porpoise¹

C14: from French pourpois, from Medieval Latin porcopiscus (from Latin porcus pig + piscis fish), replacing Latin porcus marīnus sea pig

Example Sentences

Their diet centered on smaller marine mammals including harbor seals and harbor porpoises, and they usually traveled and foraged in groups of about five.

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Dolphins, porpoises, and certain types of whales use echolocation to navigate the ocean.

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Roughly 6 million common dolphins inhabit tropical and temperate waters worldwide, making them the most numerous members of the cetacean family, which includes whales and porpoises.

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In 2019, Canada passed a bill making it illegal to hold a whale, dolphin or porpoise captive.

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They also reminded people that dolphins, whales and porpoises are protected by law.

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Related Words

• mammal