grampus

[ gram-puh s ]
/ ˈgræm pəs /

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.

Origin of grampus

1520–30; earlier grampoys, variant (by assimilation) of graundepose great fish, equivalent to graunde grand + 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

Example sentences from the Web for grampus

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)