Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Walrus
Wal′rus
,Noun.
[D.
walrus
; of Scand. origin; cf. Dan valros
, Sw. vallross
, Norw. hvalros
; literally, whale horse; akin to Icel. hrosshvalr
, AS. horshwael
. See Whale
, and Horse
.] (Zool.)
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
. ☞ 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. Webster 1828 Edition
Walrus
WALRUS
,Noun.
Definition 2024
walrus
walrus
English
A walrus
Noun
walrus (plural walruses or walrus or walrusses)
- (countable) A large Arctic marine mammal related to seals and having long tusks, tough, wrinkled skin, and four flippers, Odobenus rosmarus.
Synonyms
Usage notes
The hypercorrect plurals walri and walrii, based on a faulty assumption that the word derives from a Latin noun of the second declension, are generally considered to be nonstandard.
Translations
large Arctic marine mammal
|
|
See also
Dutch
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈʋɑlrʏs/
Etymology
The origin of this word is uncertain, with several theories proposed. The Old Norse hrossvalr (“horse-whale”) is thought to have been passed to Dutch in an inverted form as wal (“whale; large sea-animal”) + ros (“horse”). The inversion would likely have happened due to the influence of the already existing Dutch compound walvis (“whale, lit. whale-fish”). An alternate theory is that is comes from wal (“shore”) + reus (“giant”).
Noun
walrus m (plural walrussen, diminutive walrusje n)