Narwhal

A narwhal is a type of whale found in Arctic waters, known for the long, spiral tusk that grows from the front of its head, mainly in males. The tusk is actually an enlarged tooth.

From Danish *narhval* and Norwegian *narhval*, probably from Old Norse *nár* “corpse” + *hvalr* “whale,” referring to its pale, mottled color like a drowned body. The name reflects northern sailors’ impressions of the animal.