porpoise

Definition

Any small cetacean of the family Phocoenidae, related to dolphins and whales.

Etymology

From Middle English porpeys, purpeys, borrowed from Anglo-Norman porpeis, purpeis, Old French pourpois, porpois, pourpais, porpeis (“porpoise”), from Vulgar Latin *porcopiscis (“porpoise”, literally “pig-fish”), from Latin porcus (“pig”) + piscis (“fish”). Compare (in transposed order) obsolete Italian pesce porco and Portuguese peixe porco; also Latin porcus marinus (“sea hog”), akin in formation to, German Meerschwein English mereswine. More at mereswine.

Example Sentences

• "They captured 25 porpoises and set them free back into the Yangtze after raising them for a month in Puqi County, Hubei."