Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Mermaid?

\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. Note: Chaucer uses this word as equivalent to the siren of the ancients. {Mermaid fish} (Zo["o]l.) the angel fish ({Squatina}). {Mermaid's glove} (Zo["o]l.), a British branched sponge somewhat resembling a glove. {Mermaid's head} (Zo["o]l.), 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}).