cachalot

Apr. 17th, 2015 08:04 am
prettygoodword: text: words are sexy (words are sexy)
[personal profile] prettygoodword
cachalot (KASH-uh-lot, KASH-uh-loh) - n., sperm whale.


Supposedly not an obsolete synonym, but I cannot recall every hearing or seeing this used. (Not that I perfectly remember the cetacean chapters of Moby Dick.) Origin is disputed, but the most common etymology is adopted around 1740 from French, from Portuguese cacholote, from cachola, colloquialism for head (of obscure origin) + -ote, augmentative suffix -- in other words, "big head."

And that's enough of these C words that aren't cookie.

---L.

Date: 2015-04-17 08:51 pm (UTC)
med_cat: (Default)
From: [personal profile] med_cat
This word is used in Russian :)

Date: 2015-04-17 11:10 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] prettygoodword.livejournal.com
I almost mentioned that (it's also a few other languages).

---L.

Date: 2015-04-17 11:37 pm (UTC)
med_cat: (Default)
From: [personal profile] med_cat
Cool :)

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