killer whale
killer whale Lexical Profile
• noun
A large, highly intelligent, predatory toothed whale (Orcinus orca) belonging to the dolphin family, characterized by its striking black-and-white coloration and found in all the world's oceans.
"During our cruise in Alaska, we were lucky enough to spot a pod of killer whales hunting near the shoreline."
Word Nuance & Usage
Despite the name, the killer whale is actually the largest member of the oceanic dolphin family, not a true whale. Many scientists and conservationists prefer the term 'orca' to avoid the negative, violent connotations of 'killer'.
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the 18th-century Spanish term 'asesina de ballenas' (whale killer), named by sailors who witnessed them hunting larger baleen whales in coordinated packs. Over time in English, the syntax was inverted to 'killer whale'.