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)

porpoise (cetacean of family Phocoenidae)
Synonyms: (rare) brunswyn, porpeys
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), volumes VI, Part 2 (M–N), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 354, column 3.

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