Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun, plural gram·pus·es.
- a cetacean, Grampus griseus, of the dolphin family, widely distributed in northern seas.
- any of various related cetaceans, as the killer whale, Orcinus (Orca) orca.
- a giant whip scorpion common to Florida.
noun plural -puses
- a widely distributed slaty-grey dolphin, Grampus griseus, with a blunt snout
- another name for killer whale
1590s, earlier graundepose (1520s), altered (by influence of grand) from Middle English graspeys (late 13c.), from Anglo-French grampais, from Old French graspois, craspois “whale, (salted) whale meat; blubber; seal,” from Medieval Latin craspicis, literally “fat fish,” from Latin crassus “thick” + piscis “fish.” For specifics of usage in English, see OED.