dolphin

[ dawl-fin, dol- ]

noun

1. any of several chiefly marine, cetacean mammals of the family Delphinidae, having a fishlike body, numerous teeth, and the front of the head elongated into a beaklike projection.
2. Also called dolphinfish, mahimahi,. either of two large, slender fishes, Coryphaena hippurus or C. equisetis, of warm and temperate seas.
3. Nautical.
   1. a pile, cluster of piles, or buoy to which a vessel may be moored in open water.
   2. a cluster of piles used as a fender, as at the entrance to a dock.
   3. a pudding fender at the nose of a tugboat or on the side of a vessel.
4. Dolphin, Astronomy. the constellation Delphinus.

dolphin

/ ˈdɒlfɪn /

noun

1. any of various marine cetacean mammals of the family Delphinidae , esp Delphinus delphis, that are typically smaller than whales and larger than porpoises and have a beaklike snout
2. river dolphin
   any freshwater cetacean of the family Platanistidae, inhabiting rivers of North and South America and S Asia. They are smaller than marine dolphins and have a longer narrower snout
3. Also calleddorado either of two large marine percoid fishes, Coryphaena hippurus or C. equisetis, that resemble the cetacean dolphins and have an iridescent coloration
4. nautical a post or buoy for mooring a vessel

Word History and Origins

Origin of dolphin¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English dolphyn, from Old French daulphin, from Old Provençal dalfin, from unattested Vulgar Latin dalfīnus, Latin delphīnus, from Greek delphī́n

Word History and Origins

Origin of dolphin¹

C13: from Old French dauphin, via Latin, from Greek delphin-, delphis