WORD FACT

On dauphins and dolphins:

In medieval France, the rulers of the region of Dauphiné used a dolphin in their coat of arms and were nicknamed le Dauphin (“the Dolphin”), from Old French “daulphin” and Latin “delphinus” (dolphin).

In 1349, Humbert II of Viennois sold the Dauphiné region to the French crown with a stipulation that the heir to the throne should take the title “le Dauphin de France”.

This is where we get the word “dauphin” as a term for the French heir apparent and, by extension, any heir apparent.

Modern English “dolphin” is likewise derived from Old French “daulphin” and Latin “delphinus”.

Latin “delphinus” derives from Greek “delphís” (dolphin). “Delphis” may be related to “delphys” (womb), possibly reflecting the ancient observation that dolphins bear live young (though the etymology is uncertain).