dauphin
pronunciation
How to pronounce dauphin in British English:
UK [ˈdəʊfæ̃; ˈdəʊfæn]
How to pronounce dauphin in American English:
US [ ˈdoʊfæ̃,ˈdoʊfæn]
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- Noun:
- formerly, the eldest son of the King of France and direct heir to the throne
Word Origin
- 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.
Example
- 1. I have come to see the dauphin .
- 2. Dauphin island beach party starring chubby checker , the drifters and the tams .
- 3. And has the dauphin done the deed yet ?
- 4. Its civilian-use range includes the ecureuil , dauphin and super puma families .
- 5. To the dauphin and dauphine of france .