Phocaena Americana
(gcide) | Porpoise \Por"poise\, n. [OE. porpeys, OF. porpeis, literally,
hog fish, from L. porcus swine + piscis fish. See Pork, and
Fish.]
1. (Zool.) Any small cetacean of the genus Phoc[ae]na,
especially Phoc[ae]na communis, or {Phoc[ae]na
phoc[ae]na}, of Europe, and the closely allied American
species (Phoc[ae]na 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.
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2. (Zool.) A true dolphin (Delphinus); -- often so called
by sailors.
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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.
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