dolphin

dolphin
\ \ [13] The ultimate source of dolphin is Greek delphís ‘dolphin’, which some have linked with Greek delphýs ‘womb’. From it was derived delphīnion, a name given to the plant larkspur on account of the dolphin-like shape of part of its flower, acquired by English via Latin as delphinium [17]. Latin took over Greek delphís as delphīnus, which passed into English along two channels. The classical form was borrowed as delfyn or delphin, which did not survive the 17th century. But the Vulgar Latin form *dalphīnus progressed to Old French daulphin (ultimate source of English dauphin), which English acquired as dalphyn. Dolphin, first recorded in the 14th century, appears to be an English alteration of the form da(u)lphin.
\ \ Cf.⇒ DAUPHIN, DELPHINIUM

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Dolphin — • The use of the dolphin as a Christian symbol is connected with the general ideas underlying the more general use of the fish. The particular idea is that of swiftness and celerity symbolizing the desire with which Christians, who are thus… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • dolphin — dol phin (d[o^]l f[i^]n), n. [F. dauphin dolphin, dauphin, earlier spelt also doffin; cf. OF. dalphinal of the dauphin; fr. L. delphinus, Gr. delfi s a dolphin (in senses 1, 2, 3, & 6), perh. properly, belly fish; cf. delfy s womb, Skr. garbha;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Dolphin — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda El término Dolphin puede referirse a: la palabra delfín en inglés; Dolphin (Smalltalk), una implementación comercial de Smalltalk, un lenguaje de programación; Dolphin (emulador), un emulador para el Nintendo… …   Wikipedia Español

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  • dolphin — (n.) mid 14c., from O.Fr. daulphin, from M.L. dolfinus, from L. delphinus dolphin, from Gk. delphis (gen. delphinos) dolphin, related to delphys womb, perhaps via notion of the animal bearing live young, or from its shape, from PIE *gwelbh .… …   Etymology dictionary

  • dolphin — [däl′fin, dôl′fin] n. [ME dolfin < OFr dalphin < VL dalfinus, for L delphinus < Gr delphinos, gen. of delphis (< IE base * gwelbh ): so named from its shape] 1. any of two widespread families (Platanistidae and Delphinidae) of toothed …   English World dictionary

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  • dolphin — ► NOUN ▪ a small gregarious toothed whale with a beak like snout and a curved fin on the back. ORIGIN Old French dauphin, from Greek delphin …   English terms dictionary

  • Dolphin — For other uses, see Dolphin (disambiguation). Bottlenose dolphin breaching in the bow wave of a boat …   Wikipedia

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