narwhal Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun small Arctic whale the male having a long spiral ivory tusk
    narwal; Monodon monoceros; narwhale.

WordNet

Nar"whal noun
Etymology
Sw. or Dan. narvhal; akin to Icel. nahvalr, and E. whale. the first syllable is perh. from Icel. nar corpse, dead body, in allusion to the whitish color its skin. See Whale.
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) An arctic cetacean (Monodon monocerous), about twenty feet long. The male usually has one long, twisted, pointed canine tooth, or tusk projecting forward from the upper jaw like a horn, whence it is called also sea unicorn, unicorn fish, and unicorn whale. Sometimes two horns are developed, side by side.

Webster 1913