rorqual

English

WOTD – 27 June 2006

Etymology

From Norwegian røyrkval, from Old Norse reyðarhvalr.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈɹɒɹkwəl/
  • (file)

Noun

rorqual (plural rorquals)

  1. Any whale of family Balaenopteridae, with longitudinal skin folds running from below the mouth to the navel, allowing the capacity of the mouth to expand greatly when feeding.
    • 1873 Jules Verne, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Ch. 1 (transl. by F. P. Walter)
      Now then, the biggest whales, those rorqual whales that frequent the waterways of the Aleutian Islands, have never exceeded a length of 56 meters--if they reach even that.

Translations

See also


Catalan

Pronunciation

Noun

rorqual m (plural rorquals)

  1. rorqual (any whale species with long skin folds below mouth)

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Norwegian røyrkval (furrow whale), from Old Norse reyðarhvalr

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ʁɔʁ.k(w)al/
  • (file)

Noun

rorqual m (plural rorquals)

  1. rorqual

Further reading


Portuguese

Noun

rorqual m (plural rorquais)

  1. rorqual (any whale species with long skin folds below mouth)
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