mereswyn

Middle English

Alternative forms

• mereswyne, mersuine

Etymology

Inherited from Old English mereswīn, from Proto-West Germanic *mariswīn, from Proto-Germanic *mariswīną; equivalent to mere (“lake, sea”) +‎ swyn (“pig”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmɛːr(ə)ˌswiːn/, /ˈmæːr(ə)ˌswiːn/, /ˈmɛr(ə)ˌswiːn/

Noun

mereswyn (rare)

1. porpoise (cetacean of family Phocoenidae)

   Synonyms: (rare) brunswyn, porpeys

2. dolphin (cetacean of family Delphinidae)

   Synonym: delphyn

Descendants

• English: mereswine
• Scots: mereswine

References

• James A. H. Murray et al., editors (1884–1928), “Mere-swine”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume VI, Part 2 (M–N), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 354, column 3.