dolphin

plural dolphins

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.
3. governmentA depiction of a fish, with a broad indented fin, usually embowed.
4. The dauphin, eldest son of the kings of France.
5. historyA mass of iron or lead hung from the yardarm, in readiness to be dropped through the deck and the hull of an enemy's vessel to sink it.
6. nauticalA kind of wreath or strap of plaited cordage.
7. nauticalA spar or buoy held by an anchor and furnished with a ring to which ships may fasten their cables.
8. nauticalA mooring post on a wharf or beach.
9. nauticalA permanent fender designed to protect a heavy boat, bridge, or coastal structure from the impact of large floating objects such as ice, floating logs, or vessels.

   For a dolphin or buoy to be placed on the south point of Goat Island, in the harbor of Newport, one hundred and fifty dollars.

   1852, The Congressional Globe: Volume 32, page xxx

   4 more examples

   At each end of the piers in the water, in cases where several rows of pile are driven, a sort of cutwater should be formed, in order to ward off heavy bodies, such as floating trees, ice, etc. and prevent them from injuring the superstructure (called in German constructions, "Eisbrecher," or ice-breaker). This is usually done by driving one pile by itself in advance of the rest, or by forming what is called a "dolphin" at each end of the pier.

   1844, The Technical Educator, an encyclopædia, page 107

   An ice-breaker or dolphin was also constructed during the latter part of the autumn, a little above the site for No. 2 dam, or that for the twoer nearest the Pesth shore; this dolphin, which served as a protection against the ice, rafts, &c. was constructed at this time, so that a means might be afforded of judging of the actual force of the ice during the winter ensuing; and the event proved that its construction was most fortunate, as the winter of 1840-41 was unusually severe.

   1852, William Tierney Clark, An Account, with illustrations, of the Suspension Bridge across the River Danube, uniting Pesth with Buda and the adjacent country, in the Kingdom of Hungary, etc, page 37

   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

   Sometimes a stoppage would take place owing to the accumulation of ice between the Dolphin and the dam, which kept that above back until a mass of ice more resembling an island than anything else it can be compared to, would force the whole mass before it, breaking up the large blocks accumulated at the dam into a thousand pieces.

   1860 March 31, “Victoria Bridge”, in American Railroad Journal, volume 16, number 13

10. obsoletegovernmentOne of the handles above the trunnions by which a gun was lifted.
11. USslangA person who buys shares on the primary market only to resell them immediately at a high profit.

plural dolphins

1. nauticalA man-made semi submerged maritime structure, usually installed to provide a fixed structure for temporary mooring, to prevent ships from drifting to shallow water or to serve as base for navigational aids.

plural Dolphins

1. countableuncountableA surname.
2. countableuncountableA township in Knox County, Nebraska, United States.
3. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Brunswick County, Virginia, United States.
4. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in San Juan County, Washington, United States.
5. countableuncountableA hamlet in Brynford community, Flintshire, Wales (OS grid ref SJ1973).
6. countableuncountableSynonym of Delphinus (constellation).

   Synonyms: Delphinus

plural Dolphins

1. A member of an athletic team called the Dolphins, such as the Miami Dolphins and teams of various institutions of learning.