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

We all need an anecdote about Ethel Merman, who starred as Rose, the overbearing stage mother.

From Los Angeles Times

“But first they have to name a theater after Ethel Merman and Mary Martin,” LuPone replied.

From Los Angeles Times

While still in her teens, Squibb began performing in theaters in St. Louis and Cleveland before moving to New York, where she made her Broadway debut in “Gypsy” alongside Ethel Merman in 1959.

From Los Angeles Times

On a late Sunday afternoon in March, energy pulses at the Mountain Merman Brewing Company — one of the few bars in town.

From Seattle Times

Stepping into the notorious stage mother role that Ethel Merman originated, Lansbury knew that she couldn’t compete with her predecessor’s raw theatrical power.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• mariner