Porpoises

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Aquatic mammals that belong to the cetacean family and are characterized by their intelligence, playful behavior, and a streamlined body
2. Marine creatures closely related to dolphins, known for their social nature and ability to communicate through a series of clicks and whistles
3. A type of marine mammal distinguished by its rounded body, beakless face, and a diet that primarily consists of fish and squid

Etymology: The creature's name literally means "hog-fish," and the pig is a surprising part of the story. The English word comes from Old French "pourpois," which itself came from Vulgar Latin "*porcopiscis," built from Latin "porcus" (hog, pig) and "piscis" (fish). Latin speakers also called the animal "porcus marinus," or "sea hog," and the same idea appears in Italian "pesce porco" and Portuguese "peixe porco." English had an older native name, "brunswyn," which the French-derived word eventually displaced. Its Germanic relatives tell a parallel story: German "Meerschwein" and the English "mereswine" both mean "sea swine," reflecting a Frankish compound of "mari" (sea) and "swin" (pig). Whether named for the sea or for fish, the animal was imagined as a swine that lives in the water.

Synonyms: cetaceans, marine mammals