grampus (grampus)

[In the 17th century spelled grampa e and (accom. to L.) grand pisces, pl.; ME. grapas, grapeys, grappays, for * granpays; grampus L. grand is, great, + piscis = E. fish: see grand and fish1. Cf. porpoise, porpus, with the same terminal element.] 1. A cetacean of the family Delphinida, subfamily Delphin inæ, and genus Phocæna or Orca, etc.; some large dolphin-like or porpoise-like cetacean, of predatory and carnivorous habits.-2. A cetacean of the family Delphinidæ and subfamily Globi cephaline; a caaing or pilot-whale; a blackfish or cowfish. In superficial characters it resembles the preceding, and grows to even larger size, but is timid and inoffensive. See cut under Globicephalus. 3. [ cap.] [NL.] A genus of grampuses, containing such as G. grise us. They are related to the caaing-whales ( Globicephalus ), and not specially to the pre Cuvier's or the Gray Grampus ( Grampus grise us). daceous grampuses ( Orca ), have no teeth in the upper jaw and few in the lower, and 68 vertebræ. There are several species. 4. The dobson or hellgrammite: more fully called water - grampus. [Eastern U. S.]-5. A pursy, puffy fellow; an obese person. [Colloq.] -6. The whip-tailed scorpion, Thelyphonus gi ganteus. Also called mule - killer, nigger - killer, and in the West Indies vinaigrier, or vinegar-maker, from its acid secretion. [Florida, U. S.] 7. The tongs with which the blooms are handled in a bloomery. [U. S.]