Daphnis

noun

Daph·​nis ˈdaf-nəs How to pronounce Daphnis (audio)
: a Sicilian shepherd renowned in Greek mythology as the inventor of pastoral poetry

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Daphnis was in 1563

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Daphnis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Daphnis. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on Daphnis

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster