dauphin English · revision 1501

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing, eponym|attested=1418}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈdəʊ.fæ̃/, /ˈdɔː.fɪn/ ''(UK)''; /doʊˈfæ̃/, /ˈdɔ.fɪn/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|dauphin]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[fro|daufin]], [[m|fro|dalfin]], originally the surname of the lords of the Dauphiné,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(MWU 2024) from [[la-med|Dalphinus]], for [[la|delphīnus|t=dolphin]] (see [[dolphin]]).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(Klein 1966) The name refers to the dolphins on the family's coat of arms.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The title of the eldest son of the king of France (1418 in Barnhart; early 15th century in Etymonline; 1485 in the OED).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The name was first borne by Guigo IV, count of Vienne (died 1142), and his successors, whose arms showed three dolphins,^(Klein 1966)^(Etymonline) and their province came to be called the Dauphiné.^(Klein 1966)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Skeat 1911) When Humbert, the last lord of the Dauphiné, ceded the province to Philip of Valois in 1349, he made it a condition that the title be borne by the eldest son of the French king,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Weekley 1921)^(MWU 2024) and it was so used until 1830.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)^(Collins 2023) English also used the form ''dolphin'', rarely after 1670.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1142 – death of Guigo IV, the first ''Dalphinus''.^(Klein 1966)

+ * 1349 – the title passes to the French king's eldest son.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1418 – in English.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1830 – the title falls out of use.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The eldest son of the king of France, from 1349 to 1830; also used as his title, often capitalized.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(historical)'' A feudal lord of a French province, especially the Dauphiné.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dauphiness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dauphine]]

+ * [[dolphin]]

+ * [[delphinium]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}