dauphin
UK[ˈdɔːfɪn]US[ˈdɔːfɪn]
n
The title of the eldest son of the king of France, used from 1349 to 1830.
n
The heir apparent to the French throne.
Etymology
The word 'dauphin' entered English directly from Old French 'dauphin', itself derived from the Latin 'delphinus', meaning "dolphin." This unusual semantic shift originates from the personal name 'Dauphin' (Dolphin), borne by the lords of the Viennois region in southeastern France, whose coat of arms featured dolphins. In 1349, the last lord of Viennois, Humbert II, ceded his province, the Dauphiné, to the French crown on the condition that the title 'Dauphin de Viennois' be borne by the heir apparent to the throne. Thus, the title, and subsequently the English word, evolved from a familial name and heraldic symbol into a specific term for the French crown prince, completely shedding its original zoological meaning.
Analysis
The word is a loanword from French, adopted as a single lexical unit. It is not productively segmented using English morphemes.
Examples
The young dauphin was being prepared for his future role as king.
Upon the king's death, the dauphin ascended the throne as Louis XVI.
The title of dauphin became obsolete after the July Revolution of 1830.