rorqual noun. ['rɔ:kw(ǝ)l] E19.
[French from Norwegian røyrkval from Old Norse reyðarhvalr, from reyðr specific name + hvalr whale.]
Any of various baleen whales of the family Balaenopteridae, characterized by a pleated throat and small dorsal fin; esp. (a) (more fully common rorqual) the fin whale; (b) (more fully lesser rorqual) the minke whale.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲