[dol.phin] n [ME, fr. MF dophin, daufin, fr. OF dalfin, fr. OProv, fr. ML dalfinus, alter. of L delphinus, fr. Gk delphin-, delphis; akin to Gk delphys womb, Skt garbha] (14c) 1 a: any of various small toothed whales (family Delphinidae) with the snout more or less elongated into a beak and the neck vertebrae partially fused b: porpoise 1
2: either of two active pelagic bony food fishes (genus Coryphaena of the family Coryphaenidae) of tropical and temperate seas that are used for food--called also dolphinfish 3 cap: delphinus
4: a spar or buoy for mooring boats; also: a cluster of closely driven piles used as a fender for a dock or as a mooring or guide for boats