| grampus | 1. <marine biology> A toothed delphinoid cetacean, of the genus Grampus, especially. G. Griseus of Europe and America, which is valued for its oil. It grows to be fifteen to twenty feet long; its colour is gray with white streaks. Called also cowfish. The California grampus is G. Stearnsii. 2. A kind of tongs used in a bloomery. Origin: Probably corrupted from It. Gran pesce great fish, or Sp. Gran pez, or Pg. Gran peixe, all fr. L. Grandis piscis. See Grand, and Fish. The animal. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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