sea-lion









sea-lion


noun

  1. any of several large eared seals, as Eumetopias jubatus (Steller’s sea lion), of the northern Pacific, and Zalophus californicus (California sea lion), of the Pacific coast of North America.
  2. Heraldry. a monster having the forepart of a lion, webbed forepaws, and the dorsal fin and tail of a fish.

noun

  1. any of various large eared seals, such as Zalophus californianus (Californian sea lion), of the N Pacific, often used as a performing animal

n.c.1600, “kind of lobster,” from sea + lion. Later the name of a fabulous animal (in heraldry, etc.), 1660s. Applied from 1690s to various species of large eared seals. As code name for the planned German invasion of Britain, it translates German Seelöwe, announced by Hitler July 1940, scrubbed October 1940.

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