sea lion
/ˈsiː ˈlaɪən/ noun
Forms sea lions sea lioning sea lioned sea-lion sealion
- noun A pinniped of most genera in the family Otariidae (the eared seals).
- noun (heraldry) A monster consisting of the upper part of a lion combined with the tail of a fish (a lion marined).
- noun (US, slang, historical) A steamer transporting cattle from the ports of Texas.
- noun (US, slang, historical) A cow or bull transported by steamer from the ports of Texas.
Synonyms
Etymology
From sea + lion, named from its marine habitat and its lion-like barking roar and mane. Compare Middle English see hound, cee-hound, se hound (“beaver”, literally “sea-hound”).
Webster’s 1913
- Any one of several large species of seals of the family Otariidæ native of the Pacific Ocean, especially the southern sea lion (Otaria jubata) of the South American coast; the northern sea lion (Eumetopias Stelleri) found from California to Japan; and the black, or California, sea lion (Zalophus Californianus), which is common on the rocks near San Francisco.
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “sea lion”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details