walvis
See also: Walvis
Afrikaans edit
Etymology edit
From Dutch walvis, from Middle Dutch walvisch, from Old Dutch walvisk, a compound of *wal (“whale”) + fisk (“fish”), presumably to clarify the meaning.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
walvis (plural walvisse, diminutive walvissie)
- whale (marine mammal)
Derived terms edit
Dutch edit
Etymology edit
From Middle Dutch walvisch, from Old Dutch walvisk, from *wal (“whale”), presumably to clarify the meaning. Equivalent to wal (“whale”) + vis (“fish”). Old Dutch *wal is from Proto-West Germanic *hwal, from Proto-Germanic *hwalaz, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kʷálos (“sheatfish”). See also waldier, walrus, grindewal.
Cognate with West Frisian walfisk, German Walfisch. The simple form is cognate with German Wal, English whale, Danish hval, Swedish val.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
walvis m (plural walvissen, diminutive walvisje n)