Definify.com

Definition 2024


Walvis

Walvis

See also: walvis

Dutch

Proper noun

Walvis m

  1. (astronomy) Cetus

walvis

walvis

See also: Walvis

Afrikaans

Noun

walvis (plural walvisse)

  1. whale (marine mammal)

Dutch

Dutch whalers near Spitsbergen (Abraham Storck, 1690)

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈʋɑl.vɪs/

Etymology

From Middle Dutch walvisch, from Old Dutch walvisk, from *wal (whale), presumably to clarify the meaning. Old Dutch *wal is from Proto-Germanic *hwalaz, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kʷálos (sheatfish). See also waldier, walrus, grindewal.

Cognate with West Frisian walfisk, German Walfisch. The simple form is cognate with German Wal, English whale, Danish hval, Swedish val.

Noun

walvis m (plural walvissen, diminutive walvisje n)

  1. whale

Derived terms

Descendants