Mermaid

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈməː.meɪd/
• US IPA: /ˈmɝ.meɪd/

Origin

From Middle English mermayde ("maid of the sea"), from mere ("sea, lake") + maid, equivalent to - + maid. Compare Old English meremenn, meremennen, meremenin ("mermaid, siren").

Full definition of mermaid

Noun

1. A mythological creature with a woman's head and upper body, and a tail of a fish.

Synonyms

• mergirl, merlady, mermaiden, merwoman

Hyponyms

• mermother
• merqueen

Hypernyms

• merperson

Holonyms

• merfolk

Related terms

Coordinate terms

• melusine
• nixie
• siren