narwhal

English

/ˈnɑːʍəl/, /ˈnɑɹʍəl/

noun

Definitions

Monodon monoceros, an Arctic cetacean that grows to about 20 feet (6 meters) long, the male having a single horn-like tusk, a twisted, pointed canine tooth that projects forward.

Etymology

Borrowed from Dutch, Flemish narwal borrowed from Norwegian Bokmål narhval derived from Old Norse náhvalr (corpse whale).

Origin

Old Norse

náhvalr

Gloss

corpse whale

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms

narwal Dutch, Flemish
нарвал Russian
narhval Norwegian Bokmål
narval Swedish
narkval Norwegian Nynorsk
náhvalr Old Norse
narhval Danish
náhvalur Icelandic
narwal Afrikaans
náhvalur Faroese
narwhal Manx