MERMAID

mermaid. Mermaid, n. a fabulous woman, sea-woman, fish

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Mer″maid (?), n. [[AS. mere lake, sea. See Mere lake, and maid.]] A fabled marine creature, typically represented as having the upper part like that of a woman, and the lower like a fish; a sea nymph, sea woman, or woman fish. ☞ Chaucer uses this word as equivalent to the siren of the ancients. Mermaid fish (Zoöl.) the angel fish (Squatina). — Mermaid's glove (Zoöl.), a British branched sponge somewhat resembling a glove. — Mermaid's head (Zoöl.), a European spatangoid sea urchin (Echinocardium cordatum) having some resemblance to a skull. — Mermaid weed (Bot.), an aquatic herb with dentate or pectinate leaves (Proserpinaca palustris and P. pectinacea).