Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Porpoise?

\Por"poise\, n. [OE. porpeys, OF. porpeis, literally, hog fish, from L. porcus swine + piscis fish. See {Pork}, and {Fish}.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) Any small cetacean of the genus {Phoc[ae]na}, especially {P. communis}, or {P. phoc[ae]na}, of Europe, and the closely allied American species ({P. Americana}). The color is dusky or blackish above, paler beneath. They are closely allied to the dolphins, but have a shorter snout. Called also {harbor porpoise}, {herring hag}, {puffing pig}, and {snuffer}. 2. (Zo["o]l.) A true dolphin ({Delphinus}); -- often so called by sailors. {Skunk porpoise}, or {Bay porpoise} (Zo["o]l.), a North American porpoise ({Lagenorhynchus acutus}), larger than the common species, and with broad stripes of white and yellow on the sides. See Illustration in Appendix.