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, & 5), perh. properly, belly fish; cf. delfy`s womb, Skr. garbha; perh. akin to E. calf. Cf. Dauphin, Delphine.]

1. (Zool.)
   (a) A cetacean of the genus Delphinus and allied genera (esp. D. delphis); the true dolphin.
   (b) 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. See Coryph[ae]noid.

Note: The dolphin of the ancients (D. delphis) is common in the Mediterranean and Atlantic, and attains a length of from six to eight feet.

2. [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.

3. (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.

4. (Gun.) In old ordnance, one of the handles above the trunnions by which the gun was lifted.

5. (Astron.) A small constellation between Aquila and Pegasus. See Delphinus, n., 2.

Dolphin fly (Zo["o]l.), the black, bean, or collier, Aphis (Aphis fable), destructive to beans.

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

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)