cachalot

[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.

Comments

[med_cat]

This word is used in Russian :)

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

I almost mentioned that (it's also a few other languages).

---L.

[med_cat]

Cool :)