narwhal

noun

nar·​whal ˈnär-ˌ(h)wäl 

-wəl

variants or less commonly narwhale

ˈnär-ˌwāl 

-ˌ(h)wāl

: an arctic cetacean (Monodon monoceros) that reaches a length of about 16 feet (5 meters) and possesses in the male one or rarely two long, spirally twisted, pointed tusks

Note: Although the narwhal is classified as a toothed whale (suborder Odontoceti), it does not possess any teeth in its mouth.

Illustration of narwhal

Did you know?

The narwhal is a toothed whale found throughout arctic waters. Its Latin binomial, Monodon monoceros, is derived from the Greek words for "single-toothed" and "single-horned." Its English name (also sometimes spelled narwhale) comes from the Norwegian and Danish narvhal and the Swedish narval, words which are probably a modification of the Icelandic nárhvalur, which comes from the Old Norse nāhvalr. In Old Norse hvalr means "whale" and is akin to the Old English hwæl, the ancestor of the Modern English whale. The first element of nāhvalr is believed to be nār, the Old Norse word for "corpse," from the resemblance of the animal's color to that of a human corpse.

Examples of narwhal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This past summer, they were trained to deploy hydrophones to record baseline underwater noise in key beluga whale and narwhal habitats, as shipping activity is expected to increase in the coming years due to ice melt. —Stephanie Hanes, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Dec. 2024

Physiological responses of narwhals to anthropogenic noise: A case study with seismic airguns and vessel traffic in the Arctic. —Donna Sarkar, Discover Magazine, 28 June 2024

Reindeer, beluga whales, narwhals, and polar bears were also on the program. —Alexandra Owens, Robb Report, 27 June 2024

Most of the company's guides are members of the Inuit community, which still hunts narwhal, according to strict quotas. —The Week Uk, theweek, 28 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Norwegian & Danish narhval & Swedish narval, probably modification of Icelandic nárhvalur, from Old Norse nāhvalr, from nār corpse + hvalr whale; from its color

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

narwhal

noun

nar·​whal ˈnär-ˌwäl 

-ˌhwäl,

-wəl

: an arctic sea mammal that is about 20 feet (six meters) long, is related to the dolphins and whales and in the male has a long twisted ivory tusk