Emily Dickinson Lexicon

WAL'RUS, n. [G. wall, as in wallfisch, a whale, and ross, a horse.]

The morse, sea-elephant, sea-horse or sea-cow, an amphibious carnivorous mammal, inhabiting the arctic seas. It is the Trichecus Rosmarus, the only species of its genus. It surpasses the largest ox in size, attaining to the length of twenty feet. It is covered with short yellowish hair. It is sought for, on account of its oil and tusks, the ivory of which, though rough-grained, is employed in the arts. The skin is used for coach-braces. The seals are the only other amphibious mammals at present known. – Cuvier.