dolphin

dolphin
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; perh. akin to E. calf. Cf. {Dauphin}, {Delphine}.] 1. (Zool.) A cetacean of the genus {Delphinus} and allied genera (esp. {Delphinus delphis}); the true dolphin. [1913 Webster]

Note: The dolphin of the ancients ({Delphinus delphis}) is common in the Mediterranean and Atlantic, and attains a length of from six to eight feet. [1913 Webster]

2. (Zool.) The {Coryph[ae]na hippuris}, a fish of about five feet in length, celebrated for its surprising changes of color when dying. It is the fish commonly known as the dolphin. The term is also applied to the related {Coryphaena equisetis}. Called also {dolphinfish} and (especially in Hawaii) {mahimahi}. See also {dolphinfish} and {Coryph[ae]noid}.

Syn: dolphinfish, mahimahi. [1913 Webster +PJC]

3. [Gr. delfi`s] (Gr. Antiq.) A mass of iron or lead hung from the yardarm, in readiness to be dropped on the deck of an enemy's vessel. [1913 Webster]

4. (Naut.) (a) A kind of wreath or strap of plaited cordage. (b) A spar or buoy held by an anchor and furnished with a ring to which ships may fasten their cables. --R. H. Dana. (c) A mooring post on a wharf or beach. (d) A permanent fender around a heavy boat just below the gunwale. --Ham. Nav. Encyc. [1913 Webster]

5. (Gun.) In old ordnance, one of the handles above the trunnions by which a cannon was lifted. [1913 Webster]

6. (Astron.) A small constellation between Aquila and Pegasus. See {Delphinus}, n., 2. [1913 Webster]

{Dolphin fly} (Zo["o]l.), the black, bean, or collier, Aphis ({Aphis fable}), destructive to beans.

{Dolphin striker} (Naut.), a short vertical spar under the bowsprit. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Dolphin — (engl. für „Delfin“) steht für: Dolphin, digitale Vertriebsplattform für Satellitenfernsehen, siehe Entavio Dolphin (Automarke), eine britische Automarke (1909–1911) Dolphin (Emulator), Emulator für Nintendos GameCube und Wii Dolphin (KDE),… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • 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 — 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

  • Dolphin FC — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Dolphin FC est le nom de plusieurs clubs de football: Dolphin Football Club est un club nigérian. Dolphin FC est un club irlandais. Ce document provient… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • 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

  • Dolphin — Dolphin, so v.w. Stutzkopf …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Dolphin — Dolphin,   Codename der Spielkonsole Gamecube …   Universal-Lexikon

  • 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

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”