different between vaquita vs dolphin

English

Etymology

From Spanish vaquita (“little cow”), diminutive of vaca (“cow”).

Noun

vaquita (plural vaquitas)

1. A small and critically endangered porpoise, Phocoena sinus, endemic to the northern part of the Gulf of California, Mexico.
   • 2015 November 5, Whale of a deal, New Scientist, Issue 3098, page 6,

     THE world’s smallest porpoise may have a fighting chance. The vaquita might be saved from extinction by an agreement at a meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in Portoroz, Slovenia, last week.

     Unique to the Gulf of California, the vaquita has seen its numbers collapse to 59 in 2015.

Synonyms

• cochito
• desert porpoise
• Gulf of California harbor porpoise
• Gulf of California porpoise
• gulf porpoise
• vaquita marina
• vaquita porpoise

Translations

See also

• sea cow

Anagrams

• aquavit

Spanish

Noun

vaquita f (plural vaquitas)

1. Diminutive of vaca, little cow

   Synonym: vaquilla

Derived terms

• vaquita marina (“vaquita”)

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?d?lf?n/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?d?lf?n/

Etymology 1

From Middle English dolfin, from Old French daulphin, dalphin, daufin, from Latin delph?nus, from Ancient Greek ?????? (delphís), from ?????? (delphús, “womb”). Compare Swedish delfin. Doublet of dauphin. Displaced native mereswine (“dolphin or porpoise”), from Old English meresw?n (literally “sea pig”).

Noun

dolphin (plural dolphins)

1. A carnivorous aquatic mammal in one of several families of order Cetacea, famed for its intelligence and occasional willingness to approach humans.

   Synonyms: mereswine, sea goose, sea pig

2. A fish, the mahi-mahi or dorado, Coryphaena hippurus, with a dorsal fin that runs the length of the body, also known for iridescent coloration.
3. (heraldry) A depiction of a fish, with a broad indented fin, usually embowed.
4. The dauphin, eldest son of the kings of France.
5. (historical) A mass of iron or lead hung from the yardarm, in readiness to be dropped through the deck and the hull of an enemy's vessel to sink it.
6. (nautical) A kind of wreath or strap of plaited cordage.
7. (nautical) A spar or buoy held by an anchor and furnished with a ring to which ships may fasten their cables.
8. A mooring post on a wharf or beach.
9. A permanent fender around a heavy boat just below the gunwale.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Ham. Nav. Encyc to this entry?)

10. (military, obsolete) One of the handles above the trunnions by which a gun was lifted.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• killer whale
• mereswine
• pod
• porpoise
• sea lion
• seal
• whale

Etymology 2

Ultimately from 3rd Duke of Alba (duc-d'Albe in French), who was the first to build this type of structure in the Spanish Netherlands in the 16th century. Possibly from Dutch dukdalf, or the plural dukdalven, through elision of the initial duk-.

Noun

dolphin (plural dolphins)

1. (nautical) A man-made semi submerged maritime structure, usually installed to provide a fixed structure for temporary mooring, to prevent ships from drifting to shallow water or to serve as base for navigational aids.

Translations

References

Anagrams

• pinhold