cachalot
/ˈkaʃəlɒt
/noun
Old-fashioned term for sperm whale.The sperm whale, or cachalot, is one of the cetaceans, a group of marine mammals whose ancestors were probably land animals....
- Toothed whales are divided into three groups: the cachalots, the porpoises and the dolphins.
- They have plenty of natural enemies - cachalots, swordfish, and sawfish - without you troubling them.
Origin
Mid 18th century: from French, from Spanish and Portuguese cachalote, from cachola 'big head'.