Etymologie
() From Middle English mereswin (“porpoise, dolphin”), from Old English mereswīn (“porpoise, dolphin”), from Proto-Germanic *mariswīnan (“dolphin, porpoise”), from Proto-Germanic *mari (“sea”) + Proto-Germanic *swīnan (“swine, pig”). Akin to Old High German merisuīn "dolphin, porpoise" (German Meerschwein "dolphin"), Old Norse marsvīn (“dolphin, sea-pig”), Middle Low German merswīn "dolphin". More at mere, swine.