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.
Related terms
- sea-pig
- seaswine
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