merman

¹

[ mur-man ]

noun

, plural mer·men.

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

Merman

²

[ mur-muhn ]

noun

1. Ethel Ethel Agnes Zimmerman, 1909–84, U.S. singer, musical comedy star, and actress.

merman

/ ˈmɜːˌmæn /

noun

1. a male counterpart of the mermaid

Word History and Origins

Origin of merman¹

1595–1605; earlier mere-man; mere ², man

Word History and Origins

Origin of merman¹

C17: see mermaid

Example Sentences

In 1960, she made her Broadway debut in Gypsy, opposite Ethel Merman.

From The Daily Beast

She was married to a press agent and, supposedly, had an affair with Ethel Merman.

From The Daily Beast

Playing an aging superhero named Merman (with sidekick Barnacle Boy), Borgnine takes on the “champion of the deep.”

From The Daily Beast

But as usual he could not hope to equal the more sensitive merman whose race had always used that form of communication.

From Project Gutenberg

For the merman turned and caught at Dalgard, pulling the larger colonist along a step or two with the urgency of his grip.

From Project Gutenberg

The welcoming cry from Sssuri brought his attention back to his companion as the merman broke into a wild run.

From Project Gutenberg

The merman uncoiled a length of thin, flexible piping which joined a two-foot canister with a flat piece of metallic fabric.

From Project Gutenberg

With infinite care the merman fitted two of the cylinders into the canister and then was forced to set the other aside.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• mariner