Pôr'poise, n.

(pôr'pus), n. [O. Eng. porcpisce, porpesse, porpuisse, porpose, Lat. porcus piscis, It. porco pesce, i. e., hog fish, called by other nations sea-hog, Ger. meerschwein, Fr. marsouin, Dan. & Norw. marsvin, Sw. marsvin, hafssvin. In W. morwhoc, sea-hog, is the name of the dolphin and grampus, from the resemblance of these animals to the hog, probably from the roundness of the back, as they appear in the water.]

(Ichth.) A cetaceous mammal of the genus Delphinus of Linnæus, but of the genus Phocæna of more recent naturalists (P. communis). It is about six feet in length, of a bluish-black color on the back, and white beneath. The whole body is covered with fat of about an inch in thickness, and the flesh beneath is red, resembles that of the hog, and was formerly regarded as a delicacy. This mammal preys on fish, and seeks food not only by swimming, but by rooting like a hog in the sand and mud, whence some persons suppose the name has been given to it. [Also porpoes, porpesse, porpise.]

Of cetaceous fish, we met with porpoises, or, as some sailors call them, sea-hogs. Kalm.