Pinniped
/ˈpɪnɪpɛd/noun
A marine mammal of the group including seals, sea lions, and walruses, characterized by limbs adapted into flippers.
Did you know?The name comes from Latin roots describing a “feathered” or “fin-like” foot, an image that reflects how seals and their relatives appear to swim with winglike limbs.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pet-
“To rush, fly, or move swiftly; the root associated with flight and feathers.”
Classical Latin
Latin
penna
“A feather or wing; later also a feathered writing instrument.”
Classical Latin
Latin
pinna
“A feather, fin, or wing-shaped appendage.”
19th Century
Scientific Latin
Pinnipedia
“The taxonomic group whose members have fin- or featherlike feet.”
19th Century
English
pinniped
“A seal, sea lion, or walrus—an animal with limbs adapted as flippers.”