vecchio marino

Literally, “sea calf”.

• IPA^(key): /ˈvek.kjo maˈri.no/
• Hyphenation: véc‧chio‧ma‧rì‧no

vecchio marino m (plural vecchi marini)

1. (obsolete) Synonym of foca (“seal”)
   • 1516, Ludovico Ariosto, “Canto sesto [Sixth Canto]”, in Orlando furioso [Raging Roland]‎, Venice: Printed by Gabriel Giolito, published 1551, page 23:

     Veloci vi correvano i delfini;
     vi venia a bocca aperta il grosso Tonno.
     I capidogli coi vecchi marini
     vengon turbati dallor pigro sonno.

     There, the dolphins swam fast; the big tuna came with its mouth open. The sperm whales and the seals are troubled in their lazy sleep.

   • 1567, Ricettario fiorentino [Florentine Cookbook]‎, page 3:

     altri sono detti da Greci amphibij, […] come il castoro, la lontra, il vecchio marino e il cocodrillo.

     Others [animals] are called amphibians by the Greeks, like the beaver, the otter, the seal and the crocodile.

• leone marino