來自法語dolphin的拚寫形式。最早來自法國Viennois領主稱號“the Dauphin of Viennois”,因其紋章上有三隻海豚而得名。後其最後一任領主在1349年割讓這塊土地時，其條件就是這個稱號要由法國長王子永久繼承，因而傳承下來。
英文詞源
dauphin
dauphin: [15] The eldest sons of the French king were from 1349–1830 designated by a title which is essentially the same word as English dolphin. It was originally applied to the lords of the Viennois, an area in the southeast of France, whose coat of arms incorporated three dolphins. After the Viennois province of Dauphiné was sold by Charles of Valois to the French crown in 1343, the king gave it to his eldest son, and from then on all eldest sons inherited it along with the title dauphin. => dolphin
dauphin (n.)
"eldest son of the king of France" (title in use from 1349-1830), early 15c., from Middle French dauphin, literally "dolphin" (see dolphin).
Originally the title attached to "the Dauphin of Viennois," whose province (in the French Alps north of Provence) came to be known as Dauphiné. Three dolphins were on the coat of arms of the lords of Viennois, first worn by Guido IV (d.1142). It is said originally to have been a personal name among the lords of Viennois. Humbert III, the last lord of Dauphiné, ceded the province to Philip of Valois in 1349, on condition that the title be perpetuated by the eldest son of the king of France. The French fem. form is dauphine.
雙語例句
1. Dauphin is sitting on the chair lazily, he is looking a letter.