mereswine

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English mereswin (porpoise, dolphin), from Old English mereswīn (porpoise, dolphin), from Proto-Germanic *mariswīną (dolphin, porpoise, cetacean), from Proto-Germanic *mari (sea) + Proto-Germanic *swīną (swine, pig), equivalent to mer- + swine. Akin to Low German Meerswien (porpoise), German Meerschwein (porpoise), French marsouin (porpoise) (< Germanic), Icelandic marsvín (porpoise, pilot whale). More at mere, swine.

Noun

mereswine (plural mereswines or mereswine)

  1. (rare, poetic, archaic) A porpoise or dolphin.
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.