dauphin

views updated May 18 2018

dauphin title of the King of France's eldest son. XV (daulphyn, dolphyn). — F. dauphin, earlier †daulphyn — Pr. dalfin — medL. dalphīnus (VIII) for L. delphinus DOLPHIN; orig. a title attached to certain seigneuries.
Hence dauphiness XVI; see -ESS 1.

dauphin

views updated May 18 2018

dau·phin / ˈdôfin/ • n. hist. the eldest son of the king of France.

dauphin

views updated Jun 08 2018

dauphin title of the eldest son of the king of France, from the family name of the lords of the Dauphiné (first used in this way in the 14th century), ultimately a nickname meaning ‘dolphin’.

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