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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

dolphin \dol"phin\ (d[o^]l"f[i^]n), n. [F. dauphin dolphin,
dauphin, earlier spelt also doffin; cf. OF. dalphinal of the
dauphin; fr. L. delphinus, Gr. delfi`s a dolphin (in senses
1, 2, 3, & 6), perh. properly, belly fish; cf. delfy`s womb,
Skr. garbha; perh. akin to E. calf. Cf. {Dauphin},
{Delphine}.]
1. (Zool.) A cetacean of the genus {Delphinus} and allied
genera (esp. {Delphinus delphis}); the true dolphin.
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Note: The dolphin of the ancients ({Delphinus delphis}) is
common in the Mediterranean and Atlantic, and attains a
length of from six to eight feet.
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2. (Zool.) The {Coryph[ae]na hippuris}, a fish of about five
feet in length, celebrated for its surprising changes of
color when dying. It is the fish commonly known as the
dolphin. The term is also applied to the related
{Coryphaena equisetis}. Called also {dolphinfish} and
(especially in Hawaii) {mahimahi}. See also {dolphinfish}
and {Coryph[ae]noid}.

Syn: dolphinfish, mahimahi.
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3. [Gr. delfi`s] (Gr. Antiq.) A mass of iron or lead hung
from the yardarm, in readiness to be dropped on the deck
of an enemy's vessel.
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4. (Naut.)
(a) A kind of wreath or strap of plaited cordage.
(b) A spar or buoy held by an anchor and furnished with a
ring to which ships may fasten their cables. --R. H.
Dana.
(c) A mooring post on a wharf or beach.
(d) A permanent fender around a heavy boat just below the
gunwale. --Ham. Nav. Encyc.
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5. (Gun.) In old ordnance, one of the handles above the
trunnions by which a cannon was lifted.
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6. (Astron.) A small constellation between Aquila and
Pegasus. See {Delphinus}, n., 2.
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{Dolphin fly} (Zool.), the black, bean, or collier, Aphis
({Aphis fable}), destructive to beans.

{Dolphin striker} (Naut.), a short vertical spar under the
bowsprit.
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