Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Porpoise
Por′poise
,Noun.
1.
(Zool.)
Any small cetacean of the genus
Phocæna
, especially Phocæna communis
, or Phocæna phocæna
, of Europe, and the closely allied American species (Phocæna Americana
). The color is dusky or blackish above, paler beneath. They are closely allied to the dolphins, but have a shorter snout. Called also harbor porpoise
, herring hag
, puffing pig
, and snuffer
. 2.
(Zool.)
A true dolphin (
Delphinus
); – often so called by sailors. Skunk porpoise
, or
Bay porpoise
(Zool.)
, a North American porpoise (
Lagenorhynchus acutus
), larger than the common species, and with broad stripes of white and yellow on the sides. See Illustration in Appendix.