# dolphin

Pronunciation: say "DOL-fin" US /ˈdɑlf.ɪn/, UK /ˈdɒlf.ɪn/

## Noun

1. The Atlantic bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus), the most widely recognized species of dolphin.
   - Simple: The bottlenose, the best-known kind of friendly sea mammal, with a short, thick snout and a curved mouth.
   - _A pod of bottlenose dolphins followed the trawler for the discarded catch._
   - _Marine biologists fitted a young dolphin with a satellite tag off the coast._
2. A carnivorous aquatic mammal belonging to one of several families within the cetacean order, noted for its intelligence and its occasional willingness to approach humans.
   - Simple: A smart sea animal that breathes air, eats fish, and sometimes swims up to people.
   - _A dolphin will sometimes guide a lost swimmer back toward shallow water._
   - _Researchers study how dolphins coordinate to herd fish into a tight ball._
3. The mahi-mahi or dorado (Coryphaena hippurus), a fish noted for its shimmering colors and a dorsal fin that extends along its whole back.
   - Simple: A brightly colored fish, also called mahi-mahi, with one long fin running down its whole back.
   - _The captain landed a thirty-pound dolphin after a long fight on light tackle._
   - _Boats trolling the gulf often bring in dolphin alongside tuna._
4. The dauphin, the eldest son of the king of France and heir to the French crown.
   - Simple: The oldest son of the king of France, who was next in line to rule.
   - _Tutors prepared the dolphin in statecraft from his earliest years._
   - _The queen feared for the dolphin's health during the long winter at court._
5. A man-made, partly submerged maritime structure, usually set up to provide a fixed point for temporary mooring, to keep ships off shallow water, or to support navigational aids.
   - Simple: A fixed post or frame built in the water to tie up boats or guide ships safely.
   - _The harbor plan added two dolphins to hold larger vessels off the rocks._
   - _A flashing light was mounted on the dolphin at the harbor mouth._
6. A fixed buffer that absorbs blows from ice, drifting logs, ships, and other large floating objects, shielding a bridge, heavy boat, or coastal structure.
   - Simple: A strong, fixed guard that protects a bridge or dock from being hit by ice, logs, or ships.
   - _The new dolphin was rated to deflect a fully laden barge at low speed._
   - _Stout dolphins ring the lighthouse base, taking the brunt of winter ice._
7. In heraldry, a stylized depiction of a fish with a broad indented fin, usually shown embowed, arched back on itself.
   - Simple: In old family symbols, a picture of a curved fish with a wide, jagged fin.
   - _The escutcheon displays a dolphin embowed, head and tail bent toward the chief._
   - _Two silver dolphins flank the central charge on the city's arms._
8. A mooring post set on a wharf or beach, to which a boat's lines are made fast.
   - Simple: A strong post on a dock or beach that boats are tied to.
   - _The ferryman tied the bow line to the dolphin at the end of the jetty._
   - _Worn dolphins along the old quay still hold the local fishing boats._
9. An anchored spar or buoy fitted with a ring, to which ships may fasten their cables.
   - Simple: A floating buoy or pole held down by an anchor, with a ring that ships tie their ropes to.
   - _The crew shackled the towline to a dolphin while waiting for the tide._
   - _Several dolphins lay anchored across the roadstead for visiting ships._
10. A wreath or strap made of plaited cordage, used as a pad or band aboard ship.
   - Simple: A ring or pad made of rope braided together, used on a ship.
   - _Sailors wound a dolphin of spun yarn about the masthead to ease the rigging's wear._
   - _The riggers replaced the frayed dolphin before the topmast could be chafed through._
11. A weapon for sinking enemy vessels, consisting of an iron or lead weight suspended from a yardarm and released to break through the deck and hull.
   - Simple: A heavy lump of iron or lead, hung up high and dropped to smash through an enemy ship and sink it.
   - _Boarders rigged the dolphin overhead, meaning to stave in the hull once grappled fast._
   - _A single dolphin opened a gash no pump could keep ahead of._
12. A person who buys shares on the primary market purely to resell them at once for a high profit. *(slang, US)*
   - Simple: Someone who buys new shares only to sell them again right away for a quick profit.
   - _The broker spotted a dolphin selling his entire allotment on the first morning of trading._
   - _A crowd of dolphins drove the price down once they unloaded their shares._

## Noun

13. One of the handles cast above the trunnions of a cannon, by which the heavy gun was lifted. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: On an old cannon, one of the handles above the side pins, used to lift the gun.

## Origin

**Meanings 1–4, 6–13** — The word comes from Middle English delphyn, from Latin delphīnus, from Ancient Greek delphís, which is related to delphús meaning "womb." The modern -ol- spelling was probably influenced by the pronunciation of Middle French dauphin. It is a doublet of dauphin and replaced the native Old English mereswīn, literally "sea pig."
**Meaning 5** — This sense ultimately traces to the 3rd Duke of Alba (duc-d'Albe in French), who first built this type of structure in the Spanish Netherlands in the 16th century. It possibly comes from Dutch dukdalf, or the plural dukdalven, through the loss of the initial duk-.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/dolphin (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).