mereswine

English

Alternative forms

• mereswyne, merswine (Scotland)

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.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmɪə(ɹ)ˌswaɪn/

Noun

mereswine (plural mereswines or mereswine)

1. (rare, poetic, archaic) A porpoise or dolphin.

Related terms

• sea-pig
• seaswine