Walrus

Walrus
Walrus Wal"rus, n. [D. walrus; of Scand. origin; cf. Dan valros, Sw. vallross, Norw. hvalros; literally, whale horse; akin to Icel. hrosshvalr, AS. horshw[ae]l. See {Whale}, and {Horse}.] (Zo["o]l.) A very large marine mammal ({Trichecus rosmarus}) of the Seal family, native of the Arctic Ocean. The male has long and powerful tusks descending from the upper jaw. It uses these in procuring food and in fighting. It is hunted for its oil, ivory, and skin. It feeds largely on mollusks. Called also {morse}. [1913 Webster]

Note: The walrus of the North Pacific and Behring Strait ({Trichecus obesus}) is regarded by some as a distinct species, by others as a variety of the common walrus. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Synonyms:
, , (Trichechus rosmarus)


Look at other dictionaries:

  • walrus — 1650s, from Du. walrus, which was probably a folk etymology alteration (by influence of Du. walvis whale and ros horse ) of a Scandinavian word, such as O.N. rosmhvalr walrus, hrosshvalr a kind of whale, or rostungr walrus. O.E. had horschwæl,… …   Etymology dictionary

  • walrus — [wôl′rəs] n. pl. walruses or walrus [Du < Dan hvalros, prob. by metathesis < ON hrosshvalr, lit., horse whale < hross, akin to OE hros, horse + hvalr, WHALE1] a massive, arctic sea carnivore (Odobenus rosmarus) of the same family… …   English World dictionary

  • walrus — ► NOUN ▪ a large marine mammal having two large downward pointing tusks, found in the Arctic Ocean. ORIGIN probably Dutch, perhaps from an Old Norse word meaning horse whale …   English terms dictionary

  • Walrus — For other uses, see Walrus (disambiguation). Walrus[1] …   Wikipedia

  • walrus — /wawl reuhs, wol /, n., pl. walruses, (esp. collectively) walrus. a large marine mammal, Odobenus nosmarus, of arctic seas, related to the seals, and having flippers, a pair of large tusks, and a tough, wrinkled skin. [1645 55; < D: lit., whale… …   Universalium

  • Walrus — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Sur les autres projets Wikimedia : « Walrus », sur le Wiktionnaire (dictionnaire universel) …   Wikipédia en Français

  • walrus — [17] Etymologically, a walrus is probably a ‘whale horse’. The word seems to have been borrowed from Dutch walrus, which was an inversion of a presumed prehistoric Germanic compound represented by Old English horschwæl and Old Norse hrosshvalr.… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

  • walrus — [17] Etymologically, a walrus is probably a ‘whale horse’. The word seems to have been borrowed from Dutch walrus, which was an inversion of a presumed prehistoric Germanic compound represented by Old English horschwæl and Old Norse hrosshvalr.… …   Word origins

  • walrus —    Used in American slang since the 1920s, according to Chapman’s Dictionary of American Slang, to refer to a short, fat person.    British speakers of English would probably associate the word with the walrus moustache, which hangs down both… …   A dictionary of epithets and terms of address

  • walrus — noun (plural walrus or walruses) Etymology: Dutch, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Danish & Norwegian hvalros walrus, Old Norse rosmhvalr Date: 1728 a large gregarious marine mammal (Odobenus rosmarus of the family Odobenidae) of arctic waters… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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