Where does “dolphinspeak” come from?
dolphinspeak (English) comes from English dolphin, from Dutch dukdalf, from French duc, from Middle French duc, from Old French duc, from Latin dux, from Latin dūcō, from Proto-Italic doukō — to pull, to draw; to lead.
dolphinspeak (English): dolphinese
Definitions
- dolphinese
Ancestry of “dolphinspeak”, step by step
dolphinspeak traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English dolphin
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | dolphin | A carnivorous aquatic mammal in one of several... |
| 2 | Dutch | dukdalf | dolphin, post for mooring boats |
| 3 | French | duc | duke |
| 4 | Middle French | duc | duke |
| 5 | Old French | duc | duke |
| 6 | Latin | dux | leader, head; commander, general, captain;... |
| 7 | Latin | dūcō | to lead, guide, conduct, lead away |
| 8 | Proto-Italic | doukō | lead |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | déwketi | — |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | dewk- | to pull, to draw; to lead |
via English speak
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | speak | To communicate with one's voice, to say words out... |
| 2 | Middle English | speke | — |
| 3 | Old English | specan | Alternative form of sprecan; to speak |
| 4 | Old English | sprecan | to speak, talk |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | *sprekan | to speak |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | sprekaną | to speak, to make a noise |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | spreg- | to make a sound, speak; to make a sound, utter,... |