rorqual

English

/ˈɹɒɹkwəl/

noun

Definitions

Any whale of family Balaenopteridae, with longitudinal skin folds running from below the mouth to the navel, allowing the capacity of the mouth to expand greatly when feeding.

Etymology

Borrowed from Norwegian røyrkval (furrow whale) derived from Old Norse reyðarhvalr (fin whale).

Origin

Old Norse

reyðarhvalr

Gloss

fin whale

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms

rorqual French
røyrkval Norwegian Nynorsk
hvalr Old Norse
reyðarhvalr Old Norse
reyðr Old Norse
røyrkval Norwegian