dolphin的词源

英文词源

dolphin: dolphin: [13] The ultimate source of dolphin is Greek delphís ‘dolphin’, which some have linked with Greek delphýs ‘womb’. From it was derived delphīnion, a name given to the plant larkspur on account of the dolphin-like shape of part of its flower, acquired by English via Latin as delphinium [17]. Latin took over Greek delphís as delphīnus, which passed into English along two channels.

The classical form was borrowed as delfyn or delphin, which did not survive the 17th century. But the Vulgar Latin form *dalphīnus progressed to Old French daulphin (ultimate source of English dauphin), which English acquired as dalphyn. Dolphin, first recorded in the 14th century, appears to be an English alteration of the form da(u)lphin.
=> dauphin, delphinium
dolphin (n.): mid-14c., from Old French daulphin, from Medieval Latin dolfinus, from Latin delphinus "dolphin," from Greek delphis (genitive delphinos) "dolphin," related to delphys "womb," perhaps via notion of the animal bearing live young, or from its shape, from PIE *gwelbh-. Popularly applied to the dorado from late 16c.

来自PIE*gwelbh, 膨胀，鼓起，引申词义子宫，孕妇的肚子，词源同child, calf.可能因肥胖的海豚如同孕妇而得名。

该词的英语词源请访问趣词词源英文版：dolphin 词源，dolphin 含义。