cachalot

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus, especially in older natural-history or whaling writing

   The male cachalot uses its massive head when competing with rivals.

Borrowed from French cachalot, probably through Portuguese cachalote. The deeper origin is uncertain, though the Portuguese word is often associated with cachola ("large head"), aptly describing the sperm whale's enormous square head.

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