Lexic.us

Definition of Sperm whale

1. Noun. Large whale with a large cavity in the head containing spermaceti and oil; also a source of ambergris.

Definition of Sperm whale

1. Noun. A whale (''Physeter macrocephalus''), the largest of the toothed whales. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Medical Definition of Sperm whale

1. A very large toothed whale (Physeter macrocephalus), having a head of enormous size. The upper jaw is destitute of teeth. In the upper part of the head, above the skull, there is a large cavity, or case, filled with oil and spermaceti. This whale sometimes grows to the length of more than eighty feet. It is found in the warmer parts of all the oceans. Called also cachalot, and spermaceti whale. Pygmy sperm whale, a toothed cetacean (Hyperoodon bidens), found on both sides of the Atlantic and valued for its oil. The adult becomes about twenty-five feet long, and its head is very large and thick. Called also bottle-nosed whale. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Literary usage of Sperm whale

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Merchants' Magazine and Commercial Review by Isaac Smith Homans, William B. Dana (1849)
"Of the whole number of vessels at sea (558), about one-half are engaged chiefly in the sperm whale fishery, the other half making the right whale the main ..."

2. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1920)
"But one species of sperm whale is known. When full-grown the male reaches a length of 60 or 65 ... In color the sperm whale is blackish above and somewhat n ..."

3. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh by Royal Society of Edinburgh (1904)
"The Occurrence of the sperm whale or Cachalot in the Shetland Seas, ... From the appearance of the animal Mr Anderson thought that it was a sperm whale, ..."

4. The Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and General by Thomas Spencer Baynes (1890)
"sperm whale.—Since 1858 British vessels have ceased to prosecute this fishing. Begun in 1775, the British sperm whale fishing soon increased and by 1791 had ..."

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