To be exact, "Meer" in modern German and its related forms in other
Germanic languages derives from the old Germanic "mari"; they are
cognate with Latin., not derived from it. Kluge suggests the animal was
called so as it came to us via the sea. Right up to the Renaissance
period these words (and Latinate equivalents e.g. porco marino) were
used to signify "dolphin" (because of its fat).
mj
Knut Mork Skagen wrote:
> On Apr 24, 2005, at 19:44, Patrick McManus wrote:
>
>> I also notice that in danish 'marsvin' is a guinea pig which may be
>> close??patrick
>
>
> Marsvin is strangely enough Latin "mare" + German "schwein", as in
> "little pig from the sea."
>
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