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Added 9 October 2026

fin

/fɪn/ symbol

In Latin: penna, pinna Wiktionary

symbol Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about fin at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

ISO 639-2 & ISO 639-3 language code for Finnish.

noun

One of the appendages of a fish, used to propel itself and to manoeuvre/maneuver.
The fish's fins minimize water flow.
A similar appendage of a cetacean or other marine animal.
a dolphin's fin
A thin, rigid component of an aircraft, extending from the fuselage and used to stabilise and steer the aircraft.
The fin stabilises the plane in flight.

verb

To cut the fins from a fish, shark, etc.
To swim in the manner of a fish.
A neutrally buoyant diver does not need to fin to maintain depth.
To provide (a motor vehicle etc) with fins.

noun

a five-pound (£5) note; the sum of five pounds.
A five-dollar bill; the sum of five dollars.

Origin

From Middle English fin, from Old English finn, from Proto-Germanic *finnō, *finǭ (“dorsal fin”) (compare Dutch vin, German Finne, Swedish finne, fena), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)pīn- (“backbone, dorsal fin”) (compare Old Irish ind (“end, point”), Latin pinna (“feather, wing, fin”), Tocharian A spin (“hook”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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