ziphian, n. & adj.

ziphian
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/ziphian_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2021

# † ziphiannoun & adjective

## Factsheet

### What does the word ziphian mean?

There are two meanings listed in OED's entry for the word ziphian. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

This word is now obsolete. It is only recorded in the 1890s.

### Where does the word ziphian come from?

Earliest known use

1890s

The only known use of the word ziphian is in the 1890s.

OED's earliest evidence for ziphian is from 1896, in the writing of R. J. Anderson.

ziphian is a borrowing from Latin, combined with an English element.

Etymons: Latin Ziphius, ‑an suffix.

### Nearby entries

1. zip-coded, adj. 1963–
2. zip-coding, n. 1964–
3. zip coon, n. 1833–
4. zip cuff, n. 1995–
5. zip cuff, v. 1996–
6. Zipf, n. 1936–
7. zip fastener, n. 1925–
8. zip fastening, n. & adj. 1925–
9. zip gun, n. 1914–
10. Ziph, n. 1834–
11. ziphian, n. & adj.1896
12. ziphiiform, adj. 1891
13. ziphioid, adj. & n. 1861–
14. zipless, adj. 1922–
15. zip line, n. 1970–
16. zip line, v. 1998–
17. zipliner, n. 1993–
18. zip lining, n.?1983–
19. zip-lipped, adj. 1943–
20. ziplock, n. 1928–
21. zipped, adj. 1931–

## Etymology

### Summary

A borrowing from Latin, combined with an English element.
Etymons: Latin Ziphius, ‑an suffix.
< scientific Latin Ziphius, genus name (see ziphioid adj.) + ‑an suffix.

## Meaning & use

Zoology. Obsolete. rare.

1. noun
   1. 1896
      A ziphioid whale; = ziphioid n.
      1. 1896

         > In Ziphians the ribs are ten.

         R. J. Anderson, Whales & Dolphins 13
      animals
      1. ziphioid 1862–
         A ziphioid whale.
      2. ziphian 1896
         A ziphioid whale; = ziphioid, n.
      View in Historical Thesaurus
2. adjective
   1. 1896
      Belonging to or having the characteristics of the whale family Ziphiidae; = ziphioid adj.
      1. 1896

         > In Sternum of the Ziphian kind A hole at middle, you will find.

         R. J. Anderson, Whales & Dolphins 14
      animals
      1. ziphioid 1861–
         Of or relating to the genus Ziphius or family Ziphiidae of beaked and bottlenose whales; belonging to or having the characteristics of this genus…
      2. ziphiiform 1891
         Designating a whale of the type represented by the genus Ziphius; = ziphioid, adj.
      3. ziphian 1896
         Belonging to or having the characteristics of the whale family Ziphiidae; = ziphioid, adj.
      View in Historical Thesaurus

Originally published as part of the entry for ziphioid, adj. & n.

ziphian, n. & adj. was revised in March 2021.

ziphian, n. & adj. was last modified in July 2023.