merkin

[ mur-kuhn ]

noun

1. false hair for the female pudenda.

merkin

/ ˈmɜːkɪn /

noun

1. an artificial hairpiece for the pudendum; a pubic wig
2. obsolete.
   the pudendum itself

Word History and Origins

Origin of merkin¹

First recorded in 1610–20; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of merkin¹

C16: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

He recently opened a fried chicken and mead joint, is planning a wine harvest for his Caduceus Cellars & Merkin Vineyards projects in Arizona, and just trained jiu-jitsu with Mike Tyson as Tyson prepares for a fight against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

From Los Angeles Times

Still in progress, the piece dipped its toes into the world by way of a recent workshop performance at Merkin Hall, presented by the Berkshire Opera Festival.

From New York Times

At the Merkin performance, the work departed significantly from Wharton’s text.

From New York Times

Born on Feb. 2, 1944, Oppens will officially celebrate her 80th birthday at Merkin Concert Hall in Manhattan on Saturday.

From New York Times

“Solar maximum means more storms, and during storms northern lights occur more often, are more intense, last longer and can extend to lower latitudes than usual,” says Slava Merkin, space physicist and director of the Center for Geospace Storms at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.

From National Geographic

About This Word

What does merkin mean?

A merkin is a pubic wig, especially for women. It is placed over the genitals to simulate pubic hair and to keep the private body parts from full exposure.

Where does merkin come from?

The merkin, as an object, has been dated back to the 1450s, by women to cover genitals that had been shaved to get rid of lice. It is also used to cover evidence of sexual disease, especially by sex workers, who additionally used merkins to decorate their bodies.

One possible origin of the word merkin is malkin, an insult dating back to the 1200s for lower-class women (which may ultimately originate from a pet form of the name Mary).

Merkins may also have been historically used by European male actors, who would don the pieces in order to portray female roles. The use of merkins in entertainment has continued to this day, with actors on film, stage, and screen wearing merkins, variously realistic and fanciful in appearance, to hide their genitals from view to avoid full-frontal nudity.

And, the term isn’t forgotten by the entertainment industry either. Merkin Muffley is the suggestive name of the fictional President of the United States in Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 film Dr. Strangelove. Others, including male drag performers, may wear them for erotic or dramatic effect.

How is merkin used in real life?

While merkin isn’t itself considered a vulgar word, some may find its purpose, and thus the term, inappropriate or obscene.

Outside of commercial or personal use, merkin’s sexual associations can lend the word to some irreverent wordplay.

More examples of merkin:

“As an erotic accessory, the merkin knows no bounds; it can be used by men in drag, or it can act as a decorative object, suggestive of sexual innocence, promiscuity, or any other number of sexually charged meanings.”
—Dan Hoffman, Thought Catalog, March 2011