noun / verb
porpoise
POR-pus/ˈpɔːrpəs/
A small toothed sea mammal closely related to dolphins.
A harbor porpoise swims just below the calm coastal water.
Etymology
The name literally means “pig fish.” This likely reflects a fancied resemblance between the animal’s snout and a pig’s, rather than a biological classification.
In context
They claimed they saw a topless, blonde woman with the tail of a porpoise sitting on the beach shore.
More examples
- Porpoises surface regularly to breathe air.
- We spot a porpoise near the boat.
- The seals porpoise through the water, rising and plunging repeatedly.
Forms
porpoise · porpoises · porpoised · porpoising
Similar words
- dolphin
- Dolphins usually have longer beaks and more curved dorsal fins.