Does anybody know how the sperm whale got it's name ?

[Doomer]

Just wonderin'.

[Admin RR]

Assuming you're serious, the sperm whale was named for the valuable spermaceti oil (wax) that this whale produces in the spermaceti organ (located in its head).

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/sub...ermwhale.shtml

[Atomic Rooster]

"The sperm whale's head houses a large reservoir containing spermaceti, a clear liquid oil that hardens to a waxlike consistency when cold, and has long been prized by whalers. Ambergris, a strange substance found in large lumps in the lower intestine of sperm whales, is formed around squid beaks that remain in the stomach. It was used in the making of perfume, and continues to be valuable in spite of its widespread replacement by synthetics."

http://www.acsonline.org/factpack/spermwhl.htm

[strangerstill]

...and spermaceti is from sperma (well, guess - hint - it's 'cos the spermaceti oil is white I guess) and cetus = whale

So, yeah, it does mean what you think it does.

[Doomer]

Thanks for the link.

What does the spermaceti oil do for the whale ?

Prevent bad hair daze?

Built in padding for head butting whaling vessels?

He sticks a wick in his nose on dark nights?



Awe, come on, I just did what you were DYING to do!

[MegalosSkylaki]

Yeah....I kinda always wondered where "whale" got its name..dash garn it.

Errr....that was what you asked wasn't it ?

"The sea is dark and deep and cold. but it contains the warmest blood of all, the blood of Whales."--D.H. Lawrence

Dang! Anybody know the next line

MOBEYD G

Whales Weep Not



Doomer, look here..

http://www.google.com/search?q=cache...&hl=en&start=4

They're really fascinating creatures.

[MegalosSkylaki]

DanG! Socalgal, Do you think we can get Caddmannq's Poem-Song posted at this site

IMAGINE--A literary giant right in TecHIMO !

LITERARYD G

P.S. The Blue Guy has a nice smile. Would make a nice Avatar for a deserving person.

[MegalosSkylaki]

Errr...I don't know if male -whales can use this when they go a-courtin' , but ye male huminoids can when they beacourtin'.

SENSITIVED G

P.S. Doomer,
ye be fast approachin' the time when ye be need to make ye choice and ye rite of passage. Be ye prepared , yon lad ?