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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Dolphin(e, n. Also: dollphin, dolphyne, -ing, -eine, -ene; doulphin(e, dulphin. [e.m.E. dolphyn (c 1500), doulphyn, OF. daulphin. Cf. Daulphin(e and Dalphin(e.]

1. The dauphin of France. 1535 Stewart 45051.
For ȝoung Lues, quhilk Dolphene wes of France, Rycht sone tha send Ib. 59352.
With the Dolphene all plane part tha tuke 1540 Treas. Acc. VII. 399.
The expensis debursit upoun the four hawknays send to the Dolphin of France 1548 Acts II. 481/2.
That the said maist Christin Kingis eldest sone and Dolphin of France may be coniunit in matrimonie with hir grace 1558 Ib. 507/2.
The said maist excellent and puissant prince king doulphin of France 1558 Corr. M. Lorraine 411.
The solempnizing … of matrimony betuix our soverane the quenis grace and the dolphing of France 1570 Leslie 151.
The King send the Dolphine to meitt him sevin liggis fra the toun 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 268.
Commissionaris … for treating … of our souerane ladies mariage in France with Frances dulphin thairof a1578 Pitsc. II. 129/29.
[That] the croune, septar, and suord sould pase to France that the Dollphin sould be crounitt thairwitht c1615 Chron. Kings 74.
He also gaiff his dochter in mareage to the Dolpheine Lowis the XI 1622-6 Bisset I. 61/18.
King James the secund, quha had sex dochteris, quhairof the eldest wes maryed on the dolphene of France

2. Dolphin (crown), a French crown-piece, prob. the écu du Dauphiné, struck by Louis XI. 1451 Acts (1597) 33 b.
The crown of France … and the Dolphin crowne, ilk ane of them hauand course for sex shillinges aucht pennies Ib. 39 b.
The rider, the crowne, the dolphin [to be cried] to elleven shillinges