Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
Narwhal — Nar whal (n[aum]r hw[.a]l), n. [Sw. or Dan. narvhal; akin to Icel. n[=a]hvalr, and E. whale. the first syllable is perh. from Icel. n[=a]r corpse, dead body, in allusion to the whitish color its skin. See {Whale}.] [Written also {narwhale} and… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
narwhal — (n.) 1650s, from Dan. and Norw. narhval, probably a metathesis of O.N. nahvalr, lit. corpse whale, from na corpse + hvalr whale (see WHALE (Cf. whale)). So called from resemblance of its whitish color to that of dead bodies. The first element is… … Etymology dictionary
narwhal — ► NOUN ▪ a small Arctic whale, the male of which has a long spirally twisted tusk. ORIGIN Danish narhval, perhaps from an Old Norse word meaning corpse , with reference to the whale s skin colour … English terms dictionary
narwhal — [när′hwāl΄när′wəl, när′hwəl] n. [< Scand, as in Norw & Dan narhval < ON nahvalr, lit., corpse (< IE base * nāu , death, corpse) + hvalr, WHALE2 (with reference to the whitish underside)] an arctic toothed whale (Monodon monoceros) of the … English World dictionary
Narwhal — This article is about the species of whale. For the class of submarine, see Narwhal class submarine. Narwhal [1] … Wikipedia
narwhal — narwhalian /nahr hway lee euhn, way , wol ee /, adj. /nahr weuhl/, n. a small arctic whale, Monodon monoceros, the male of which has a long, spirally twisted tusk extending forward from the upper jaw. Also, narwal, narwhale /nahr hwayl , wayl /.… … Universalium
narwhal — [17] The narwhal, a small arctic whale with a long unicorn like tusk, is whitish in colour, which evidently reminded Viking seafarers somewhat morbidly of a corpse, for they named it in Old Icelandic nāhvalr, literally ‘corpse whale’. In Danish… … The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins
narwhal — narvalas statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Monodon monoceros angl. narwhal; narwhale; sea unicorn; unicorn whale vok. Einhorn; Einhornwal; Narwal rus. нарвал pranc. licorne de mer; narval; unicorne… … Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas
Narwhal class submarine — may refer to:*USS Narwhal (SS 167) *USS Nautilus (SS 168) … Wikipedia
narwhal — also narwhale noun Etymology: Norwegian & Danish narhval & Swedish narval, probably modification of Icelandic nárhvalur, from Old Norse nāhvalr, from nār corpse + hvalr whale; from its color Date: 1646 an arctic cetacean (Monodon monoceros) about … New Collegiate Dictionary
