dolphin

What it means

1. A carnivorous cetacean, typically with a beak-like snout, famed for their intelligence and occasional willingness to approach humans.

   Synonyms: mereswine, sea goose, sea pig

   1. Tursiops truncatus, (Atlantic bottlenose dolphin) the most well-known species.

      Synonyms: mereswine, sea goose, sea pig

2. A fish, the mahi-mahi or dorado, Coryphaena hippurus, with a dorsal fin that runs the length of the body, also known for iridescent coloration.

In a sentence

The Dolphin is now seldom used, but a rope treated in the same manner, with mousings raised on it at regular intervals, is sometimes put around a Launch, just below the gunwale outside and secured there as a sort of permanent fender; this also is called a Dolphin.

1868, Stephen Bleecker Luce, Seamanship, page 28

Where it comes from

1. Ancient Greekδελφίς
2. Latindelphīnus
3. Middle Englishdelphyn
4. Englishdolphin

From Middle English delphyn, from Latin delphīnus, from Ancient Greek δελφίς (delphís), from δελφύς (delphús, “womb”); the modern form in -ol- is probably influenced by the pronunciation of Middle French dauphin. Compare Dutch dolfijn and Swedish delfin. Doublet of dauphin. Displaced native Old English mereswīn (literally “sea pig”), whence English mereswine.