delphyn

Middle English

Alternative forms

• delfyne, delphin, dolphyn

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin delphīnus, from Ancient Greek δελφίς (delphís); doublet of Dauphin.

Forms with -o- are probably influenced by the pronunciation of Middle French dauphin (approximately /dɔˈfĩː/).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /dɛlˈfiːn/, /ˈdɛlfin/, /ˈdɔlfin/

Noun

delphyn (plural delphyns)

1. (Late Middle English, rare) dolphin (cetacean of family Delphinidae)

   Synonym: mereswyn

Descendants

• English: dolphin
• Scots: dowphin
• → Welsh: dolffin

References

• “delfīn, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.