sea horse n 1: either of two large northern marine mammals having ivory tusks and tough hide over thick blubber [syn: walrus, seahorse, sea horse] 2: small fish with horse-like heads bent sharply downward and curled tails; swim in upright position [syn: seahorse, sea horse}]

sea horse noun Date: 15th century 1. walrus 2. a mythical creature half horse and half fish 3. any of a genus (Hippocampus of the family Syngnathidae) of small bony fishes that have the head angled downward toward the body which is carried vertically and are equipped with a prehensile tail

sea horse see seahorse

Sea horse \Sea" horse`\ 1. A fabulous creature, half horse and half fish, represented in classic mythology as driven by sea dogs or ridden by the Nereids. It is also depicted in heraldry. See Hippocampus. 2. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The walrus. (b) Any fish of the genus Hippocampus. Note: In a passage of Dryden's, the word is supposed to refer to the hippopotamus.

2. (Zo["o]l.) A genus of lophobranch fishes of several species in which the head and neck have some resemblance to those of a horse; -- called also sea horse. Note: They swim slowly, in an erect position, and often cling to seaweeds by means of the incurved prehensile tail. The male has a ventral pouch, in which it carries the eggs till hatched. 3. (Zo["o]l.) A name applied to either of two ridges of white matter in each lateral ventricle of the brain. The larger is called hippocampus major or simply hippocampus. The smaller, hippocampus minor, is called also ergot and calcar.

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