nounsecond declension
vitulus marīnus
vitulus marīnus m (genitive vitulī marīnī)
Classical[ˈwɪ.tʊ.ɫʊs maˈriː.nʊs]Ecclesiastical[ˈviː.tu.lus maˈriː.nus]
Meaning
- seal, sea calf
Tonitrua et fulgura paulo infirmius expavescebat, ut semper et ubique pellem vituli marini circumferret pro remedio, […]
He had so great a fear of thunder and lightnings that, wherever he be, he always packed the hide of a seal to cover himself with as relief, […]121 CE, Suetonius, De Vita Caesarum, volume Aug.90:
Declension
| form | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | vitulus marīnus | vitulī marīnī |
| genitive | vitulī marīnī | vitulōrum marīnōrum |
| dative | vitulō marīnō | vitulīs marīnīs |
| accusative | vitulum marīnum | vitulōs marīnōs |
| ablative | vitulō marīnō | vitulīs marīnīs |
| vocative | vitule marīne | vitulī marīnī |
Origins
From vitulus + marīnus. Compare English sea calf and the use of other terrestrial animals' names to create ones of aquatic and semiaquatic animals in compounds with the adjective marīnus: porcus marīnus (“porpoise”, literally “sea pork”), rāna marīna (“anglerfish”, literally “sea frog”).