How Do You Spell BLOWING THE GRAMPUS?

Pronunciation: [blˈə͡ʊɪŋ ðə ɡɹˈampəs] (IPA)

The phrase "Blowing the Grampus" is an old naval term that means to discharge a cannon without a projectile. The spelling of Grampus might seem unusual, but it is actually a phonetic transcription of the word "grandpus" in the sailor's dialect. The IPA transcription for this word is /ˈɡrænd.pəs/, with stress on the first syllable. The word "grandpus" originally referred to a large marine mammal, but in the context of the naval tradition, it became associated with the discharge of the cannon.