meriswin

Old Dutch

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *mariswīn. Equivalent to meri (“sea”) +‎ *swīn (“pig”). Cognate with Old High German meriswīn (“dolphin”). Compare also Dutch zeevarken (“porpoise”), from zee (“sea”) +‎ varken (“pig”).

Noun

meriswīn n

1. unknown sea animal, probably porpoise

Descendants

• Middle Dutch: mēerswijn, maerswijn, merswijn
  • Dutch: meerzwijn

References

• “meriswīn”, in Oudnederlands Woordenboek, 2012