First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1porpoise
noun por·poise \ˈpȯr-pəs\
: a small usually gray and white whale that has a rounded nose
Full Definition of PORPOISE
1
: any of a family (Phocoenidae) of small gregarious toothed whales; especially : a blunt-snouted usually largely black whale (Phocoena phocoena) of the North Atlantic and North Pacific that is five to eight feet (1.5 to 2.4 meters) long
2
: dolphin 1a(1)
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Origin of PORPOISE
Rhymes with PORPOISE
2porpoise
verb
Definition of PORPOISE
intransitive verb
1
: to leap or plunge like a porpoise <penguins…porpoise out of the water — David Lewis>
2
: to rise and fall repeatedly
First Known Use of PORPOISE
1909
PORPOISE Defined for Kids
porpoise
noun por·poise \ˈpȯr-pəs\
Definition of PORPOISE for Kids
1
: a small whale with teeth that resembles a dolphin but has a blunt rounded snout
2
: dolphin 1
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