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

But the first mermaid that comes into focus doesn’t so much evoke wonder as it does a flashback of Ben Stiller’s merman in “Zoolander.”

From Washington Times

In her first novel, “The Pisces,” a disaffected Sappho scholar named Lucy has a love affair with Theo, a merman.

From Los Angeles Times

On “The Mighty Boosh,” one of the strange and beautiful characters he played was a merman who shot light out of his “man-gina.”

From New York Times

He is tall and strong, with uncanny blue eyes—“sea-cold,” “merman” eyes.

From The New Yorker

But Mr. Van Ness was not feeling his normal gorgeous self, the boisterous “Yass queen” merman that fans of “Queer Eye” adore.

From New York Times

Related Words

• mariner