Morse
/mɔːrs/noun
A walrus, especially in older or literary English usage.
Did you know?English morse is an obsolete or literary borrowing associated with European words for the walrus, while capitalized Morse refers to inventor Samuel Morse and has a completely separate origin.
Etymological Timeline
16th Century
Russian
морж (morž)
“Walrus; a likely source within the word’s wider European transmission history.”
16th Century
French
morse
“Walrus.”
17th Century
English
morse
“Walrus, borrowed from French.”
Modern English
English
morse
“An archaic or literary term for a walrus; distinct from Morse code.”