Glossary

League
An old measure of distance, about four kilometres.
Narwhal
A whale with a long spiral tusk. Aronnax first thinks the monster is a giant one.
Harpooner
A sailor who hunts whales with a spear on a rope.
Frigate
A fast warship.
Cachalot
An old name for the sperm whale.
Poulp
An old word for octopus or squid.
Sargasso
A seaweed that floats in great mats in the Atlantic.
Maelstrom
A huge, powerful whirlpool.
Coral
A sea creature that builds rocky reefs.
Ballast
Weight carried to make a ship sit lower or sink.

Image credits