sea-hog
Definition
- Noun (Zoology):
- A common name for a porpoise or dolphin, especially the common porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). The term "sea-hog" refers to a small, toothed whale that inhabits coastal waters and is known for its blunt snout and playful behavior.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The fishermen spotted a sea-hog swimming near the boat. (A porpoise or dolphin observed in the wild.)
- In old maritime tales, the sea-hog was often mistaken for a mythical creature. (Historical reference to porpoises or dolphins.)
Advanced Usage
"To call someone a sea-hog" (dated, informal): to describe a person as clumsy or noisy, likening them to the animal's rough appearance or sounds.
- He barged into the room like a sea-hog, knocking over a chair. (He entered clumsily and noisily.)
"sea-hog's tooth" (rare): a term for a small, conical tooth from a porpoise, sometimes used in jewelry or as a talisman.
- The sailor wore a necklace made from a sea-hog's tooth for good luck. (A porpoise tooth used as an amulet.)
Variants and Related Words
- Sea-hog (n): the primary form; no common variants exist.
- Hogfish (n): a different marine fish (), unrelated to porpoises or dolphins.
- Porpoise (n): a more formal term for the same group of animals.
- The porpoise, or sea-hog, is known for its intelligence. (Synonymous usage.)
Synonyms
- Porpoise: a small, toothed whale of the family Phocoenidae.
- Dolphin: a larger, more slender relative in the family Delphinidae (though "sea-hog" is less commonly applied to dolphins).
- Merrymaid (archaic): an old folk term for a dolphin or porpoise.
Phrasal Verbs
- (The word does not form phrasal verbs.)
Related Idioms
"To swim like a sea-hog" (rare, informal): to swim with a clumsy or thrashing motion, like a porpoise.
- He flailed in the water, swimming like a sea-hog. (He swam awkwardly and noisily.)
"A sea-hog of a man" (dated, derogatory): a coarse or brutish person.
- That sea-hog of a captain shouted orders rudely. (The captain was rough-mannered.)