merman

From Middle English mereman, from Old English *meremann (“merman”) (suggested by Old English meremenn, meremennen, meremenin (“mermaid, siren”)), equivalent to mer- +‎ man. Cognate with Dutch meerman (“merman”), German Meermann (“merman”).

• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)mən

merman (plural mermen)

1. A legendary creature, human male from the waist up, fishlike from the waist down.
   • 1653, The Loves of Hero and Leander: A Mock Poem, London, page 19:

     The meer man hath no feet but fins
     And this hath legs you see and shins.

• merguy (informal)

• merperson

• merboy
• merfather

• mermaid
• merfolk

• Nammer

merman

1. third-person plural present indicative of mermar