Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

grampus

noun
gram·​pus | \ ˈgram-pəs How to pronounce grampus (audio) \

Definition of grampus

1a : risso's dolphin
b : any of various other small cetaceans (such as the killer whale or pilot whale)
2 : the giant whip scorpion (Mastigoproctus giganteus) of the southern U.S.

First Known Use of grampus

circa 1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

History and Etymology for grampus

alteration of Middle English graspey, grapay, from Anglo-French graspeis, from gras fat (from Latin crassus) + peis fish, from Latin piscis — more at crass, fish

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about grampus

Statistics for grampus

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for grampus

The first known use of grampus was circa 1529

See more words from the same year

More from Merriam-Webster on grampus

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with grampus

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about grampus

Comments on grampus

What made you want to look up grampus? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

gnomic

Listen to the pronounciation of gnomic

characterized by aphorism

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Farm Idioms Quiz

  • cow coming home
  • What does 'poke' refer to in the expression 'pig in a poke'?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games