I. ˈpȯrpəs, -ȯəp- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English porpeys, porpoys, from Middle French porpeis, porpois, from Medieval Latin porcopiscus, from Latin porcus pig + piscis fish — more at farrow , fish
1. : any of various small gregarious toothed whales of the genus Phocaena having a blunt rounded snout that does not form a projecting beak ; especially : a common toothed whale ( P. phocaena ) of the north Atlantic and Pacific that is 5 to 8 feet long and usually blackish above and whitish below — called also harbor porpoise ; compare dolphin 1a
2. : any of various small toothed cetaceans ; especially : any such cetacean with a short beak (as a member of the genus Cephalorhynchus of the southern hemisphere)
3. : any of several dolphins (as the common dolphin or the bottle-nosed dolphins)
4. : a synchronized swimming stunt consisting of a headfirst surface dive executed in either pike or tuck position to a point of complete vertical submergence
II. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
1. : to leap or plunge like a porpoise
penguins porpoised away on all sides — National Geographic
2. of an underwater craft or object : to break the surface of the water : broach
3. of an airplane or surface craft : to slap the surface : skip