mermaid

[ mur-meyd ]

noun

1. (in folklore) a female marine creature, having the head, torso, and arms of a woman and the tail of a fish.
2. a highly skilled female swimmer.

mermaid

/ ˈmɜːˌmeɪd /

noun

1. an imaginary sea creature fabled to have a woman's head and upper body and a fish's tail

mermaid

1. A legendary marine creature with the head and torso of a woman and the tail of a fish; the masculine, less well-known equivalent is a merman. Though linked to the classical Sirens , mermaids may be nothing more than sailors' fanciful reports of the playful antics of dugongs or manatees.

Word History and Origins

Origin of mermaid¹

First recorded in 1300–50, mermaid is from the Middle English word mermayde. See mere ², maid

Word History and Origins

Origin of mermaid¹

C14: from mere lake, inlet + maid

Example Sentences

While Kingman and his crew did indeed survive this “grand conflagration,” tales of seas that glow have popped up alongside mermaids and dragons in nautical lore throughout the ages.

From Nautilus

She got her start swimming in her grandparents’ pool, where she pretended to be a mermaid.

From Outside Online

I am starting to paint a mermaid canvas and it has so many details.

From Time

They could have created mermaids — half man, half fish — or fauns — half man, half goat — or any other combination.

From Science News For Students

Options include Winnie the Pooh, jungle toile, mermaids, nature, paisley, and over 30 more prints.

From Popular-Science

Dora is seen getting dressed as a mermaid by a cursor being manned by some omniscient game player.

From The Daily Beast

“What The Little Mermaid Taught Us About Being Grown-Ups,” Vanity Fair commemorated in a GIF-laden post.

From The Daily Beast

The Little Mermaid was also a target of the Christian right in the 1990s.

From The Daily Beast

She occasionally has to dress up as a mermaid for her gig at a fancy Miami hotel.

From The Daily Beast

We already knew Florida was the capital of kitsch, but the Weeki Wachee Mermaid Show just outside Tampa takes it to a new level.

From The Daily Beast

The Mermaid drove, but it was not considered to be caused by the nature of the bottom, which is of soft sand, and free from rocks.

From Project Gutenberg

The Mermaid was nearly lost in attempting to cross the latter reef.

From Project Gutenberg

The entrance is defended by a bar, on which the Mermaid was nearly lost.

From Project Gutenberg

I did not succeed in finding them, although the Mermaid sailed close to their position.

From Project Gutenberg

The Mermaid's track will direct the course to Cape Melville.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• gnome
• goblin
• imp
• leprechaun