mermaidn.
/ˈməːmeɪd/, U.S. /ˈmərˌmeɪd/ 1.
a. An imaginary, partly human sea creature with the head and trunk of a woman and the tail of a fish or cetacean.In early use often identified with the siren of classical mythology. Now conventionally depicted as a beautiful girl with flowing golden hair (see also sense 2).
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > supernatural being > hybrid creature or monster > [noun] > human hybrid > mermaid or merman > mermaid
nicker1340
mermaidc1350
mermaiden1397
sea-maid1600
sea-woman1608
merwoman1811
merrymaid1865
Mammy Water1966
c1350 Nominale (Cambr. Ee.4.20) in Trans. Philol. Soc. (1906) 19* Sur la ripe est vn ceroyne, On the bank is a meremayde.
c1390 G. Chaucer Nun's Priest's Tale 4460 Chauntecleer so free Song myrier than the mermayde in the see.
?1406 T. Hoccleve La Mâle Règle 236 in E. P. Hammond Eng. Verse between Chaucer & Surrey (1927) 63/2 It spekth of meermaides in the See.
?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 2261) (1869) II. 369 Poetes feyne iij meremaydes [L. Sirenes] to be in parte virgines and in parte bryddes.
c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lvi. 190 So swete a sownde that it semed to be the mermaydes of the see.
1599 J. Davies Nosce Teipsum 18 Did Sense perswade Vlysses, not to heare The Mermaids songs.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 236 As for the Meremaids called Nereides, it is no fabulous tale that goes of them..onely their bodie is rough & skaled all ouer.
a1661 B. Holyday tr. Juvenal Satyres (1673) 265 Sea-monsters, such as mear-maids, and young tritons, half men, half fish.
1681 J. Dryden Spanish Fryar iv. ii. 60 This Mermayd's melody, Into an unseen whirl-pool draws you fast.
1762 O. Goldsmith Citizen of World II. 68 They have laid their hoops aside and are become as slim as mermaids.
1815 W. Scott Lord of Isles iii. xxviii. 117 Mermaid's alabaster grot, Who bathes her limbs in sunless well.
1820 J. Keats Eve of St. Agnes in Lamia & Other Poems 96 Half-hidden, like a mermaid in sea-weed.
1867 J. Roby Mermaid of Martin Meer in Trad. Lancs. (ed. 4) II. 174 'Tis said a mermaid haunts yon water.
1917 T. S. Eliot Love Song J. Alfred Prufrock in Prufrock & Other Observ. 15 I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each. I do not think that they will sing to me.
1990 P. Allardice Myths, Gods & Fantasy (BNC) 149 Tales are told of mermaids who fall in love with mortal men and painfully shed their tail in order to be able to live with them on land.
b. A manatee or similar animal thought to resemble a mermaid.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Placentalia > [noun] > order Sirenia
sea-bulla1400
mermaida1544
sea-cow1613
sea-ape1755
sirenian1883
trichechodont1887
a1544 R. Barlow tr. M. Fernández de Enciso Brief Summe Geogr. (1932) 130 In the river of Cuchyn be cocodrilles, the wch be fysshes that hathe the shape of man and woman, and..these be those that we call marmaydes.
1582 S. Batman Vppon Bartholome, De Proprietatibus Rerum xviii. xcvii. f. 380v As for the Mermaide, that is the sea fish, shapes appere after diuerse formes.
1622 R. Hawkins Observ. Voiage South Sea xxxii. 78 These..are part terrestryall, and part aquatile, as the Mare-maide, Sea-horse, and other of that kind.
1853 A. Henfrey tr. M. J. Schleiden Plant (ed. 2) 400 Walruses and sea-cows, Rytinæ and mermaids.
1972 Standard Encycl. Southern Afr. VII. 339/1 Mermaids or ‘sea-cows’ (order Sirenia) are slow-moving, harmless mammals, superficially resembling whales.
2. Chiefly Heraldry. A representation of a mermaid.Usually depicted heraldically with long flowing hair, and holding a mirror in her right hand, and a comb in her left.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > insignia > heraldic devices collective > heraldic representations of creatures > [noun] > monsters
dragonc1330
griffina1400
yalec1425
mermaid1445
manticorec1470
cockatrice1513
mermaiden1538
opinicus1546
lituit1562
Pegasus1562
equicerve1572
harpy1572
lyciske1572
verme1572
wyver1599
merman1601
lion-dragon1610
lion-poisson1610
wyvern1610
Sagittarius1619
sagittary1632
man-fish1653
sea lion1661
satyral1724
man-tiger1780
sea-dog1780
Welsh dragon1799
camelopardel1830
satyr1845
serpivolant1866
sea monkey1909
1445 Inventory in Archaeologia (1887) 50 521 Item ij quis = sini de veluto..enbrondate cum cerenis et meremaides.
1464 Will of Kent (Somerset Ho.) Vnum meremayde de argento.
1527 J. Rastell Abridgem. Statutes (colophon) Enprynted in the chepe syde at the sygne of the mere mayde next to poulys gate.
1533 Visit. Lancs. (Chetham Soc. No. 98) 55 A meyre mayd haire come & glasse or.
1551 H. Machyn Diary (1848) 8 A marmed was ys crest.
1631 T. Heywood Londons Ius Honorarium in Wks. (1874) IV. 276 Upon the top of the one stands a Sea Lyon vpon the other a Meare-maide or Sea-Nimphe.
1680 J. Dryden Kind Keeper ii. i. 13 Wood. How sits my Chedreux? Ger. O very finely! with the Locks comb'd down, like a Maremaids, on a Sign-post.
1762 Ann. Reg. 1761 238 The fishmongers pageants consisted of..two mairmaids [etc.].
1874 J. W. Papworth & A. W. Morant Alphabet. Dict. Coats of Arms 983/1 Vert a mermaid arg. crined or holding a comb and glass of the third.
1969 J. Franklyn & J. Tanner Encycl. Dict. Heraldry 192/1 Argent, a mermaid gules crined Or, holding in her dexter hand the mirror and, in her sinister, the comb, both also Or.
3.
a. A woman possessing the attributes of a mermaid; a woman who sings sweetly, or who charms, allures, or deceives; a siren. Also (in 16th and 17th centuries): a prostitute. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > attraction, allurement, or enticement > [noun] > one who or that which
tollerc1440
allurer1556
ticer?c1562
invitera1586
siren1592
solicitor1593
mermaid1595
invitator1603
coy1629
attractor1646
coy-duck1654
lightning rod1859
Pied Piper1869
witcher1928
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > prostitution > [noun] > a prostitute
meretrixOE
whoreOE
soiled dovea1250
common womanc1330
putec1384
bordel womanc1405
putaina1425
brothelc1450
harlot?a1475
public womanc1510
naughty pack?1529
draba1533
cat1535
strange woman1535
stew1552
causey-paikera1555
putanie?1566
drivelling1570
twigger1573
punka1575
hackney1579
customer1583
commodity1591
streetwalker1591
traffic1591
trug1591
hackster1592
polecat1593
stale1593
mermaid1595
medlar1597
occupant1598
Paphian1598
Winchester goose1598
pagan1600
hell-moth1602
aunt1604
moll1604
prostitution1605
community1606
miss1606
night-worm1606
bat1607
croshabell1607
prostitute1607
pug1607
venturer1607
nag1608
curtal1611
jumbler1611
land-frigate1611
walk-street1611
doll-common1612
turn-up1612
barber's chaira1616
commonera1616
public commonera1616
trader1615
venturea1616
stewpot1616
tweak1617
carry-knave1623
prostibule1623
fling-dusta1625
mar-taila1625
night-shadea1625
waistcoateera1625
night trader1630
coolera1632
meretrician1631
painted ladya1637
treadle1638
buttock1641
night-walker1648
mob?1650
lady (also girl, etc.) of the game1651
lady of pleasure1652
trugmullion1654
fallen woman1659
girlc1662
high-flyer1663
fireship1665
quaedama1670
small girl1671
visor-mask1672
vizard-mask1672
bulker1673
marmalade-madam1674
town miss1675
town woman1675
lady of the night1677
mawks1677
fling-stink1679
Whetstone whore1684
man-leech1687
nocturnal1693
hack1699
strum1699
fille de joie1705
market-dame1706
screw1725
girl of (the) town1733
Cytherean1751
street girl1764
monnisher1765
lady of easy virtue1766
woman (also lady) of the town1766
kennel-nymph1771
chicken1782
stargazer1785
loose fish1809
receiver general1811
Cyprian1819
mollya1822
dolly-mop1834
hooker1845
charver1846
tail1846
horse-breaker1861
professional1862
flagger1865
cocodette1867
cocotte1867
queen's woman1871
common prostitute1875
joro1884
geisha1887
horizontal1888
flossy1893
moth1896
girl of the pavement1900
pross1902
prossie1902
pusher1902
split-arse mechanic1903
broad1914
shawl1922
bum1923
quiff1923
hustler1924
lady of the evening1924
prostie1926
working girl1928
prostisciutto1930
maggie1932
brass1934
brass nail1934
mud kicker1934
scupper1935
model1936
poule de luxe1937
pro1937
chromo1941
Tom1941
pan-pan1949
twopenny upright1958
scrubber1959
slack1959
yum-yum girl1960
Suzie Wong1962
mattress1964
jamette1965
ho1966
sex worker1971
pavement princess1976
parlour girl1979
crack whore1990
1595 G. Markham Most Honorable Trag. Sir R. Grinuile lxxii Honietongd Tullie, Mermaid of our eares.
1602 T. Dekker Satiro-mastix sig. H2 A Gentleman..shall not..sneake into a Tauerne with his Mermaid.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) iii. ii. 45 Oh traine me not sweet Mermaide with thy note,..Sing Siren for thy selfe, and I will dote.
1617 T. Middleton & W. Rowley Faire Quarrell (new ed.) iv. sig. H*3 Your Tweakes are like your Mer-maydes, they haue sweet voyces to entice the passengers.
a1627 T. Middleton & W. Rowley Old Law (1656) iv. 48 Clo... I have Siren heere already. Agatha. What a Mermaid? Gnotho. No but a maid horse face.
1908 Pleasure Bound Afloat i. 16 A mermaid; a ‘merm’ we call them, is a dear, delightful dot of dimity, who doesn't exactly traverse this boundless waste of wave because she loves it, but because there are gents like you, sir, who have money to spend and want a little occasional diversion.
b. poetic or humorous. A woman who is at home in water.
ΚΠ
1823 Ld. Byron Island iv. ix. 69 Proud and exulting in his Mermaid bride.
1880 ‘Ouida’ Moths I. 3 She had floated..semi-nude, with all the other mermaids à la mode.
1993 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 12 Aug. 59 (advt.) Mermaid in Manhattan... Seeking adventurous, warm, witty aquaholic to share travel, scuba, nightlife.
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society > leisure > dancing > types of dance or dancing > country-dance or dancing > [noun] > specific country-dances
haya1529
trenchmore1552
hay-de-guy1579
country bumpkin1649
sedany1651
Sir Roger de Coverley1685
Frenchmore1696
mermaid1701
Moll Peatley1711
hemp-dressers1756
cottager's dance1851
pop goes the weasel1853
tempête1873
barn dance1892
line dance1961
1701 Newest Acad. Compliments The Mermaid.—The leaders-up change sides, then turn each the other's partner [etc.].
1710 Playford's Eng. Dancing Master (ed. 11) 105 Mermaid [music and directions] [1716 Maremaid].
5. In form Mermaid. A vigorous variety of climbing rose with single yellow flowers, produced by crossing the Macartney rose, Rosa bracteata, with a yellow tea rose.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [noun] > rose and allied flowers > rose > types of rose flower or bush
summer rosea1456
French rose1538
damask rose?a1547
musk rose1559
province1562
winter rose1577
Austrian brier1590
rose of Provence1597
velvet rose1597
damasine-rose1607
Provence rose1614
blush-rose1629
maiden's blush1648
monthly rose tree1664
Provinsa1678
York and Lancaster rose1688
cinnamon rose1699
muscat rose1707
cabbage rose1727
China-rose1731
old-fashioned rose1773
moss rose1777
swamp rose1785
alba1797
Cherokee rose1804
Macartney rose1811
shepherd's rose1818
multiflora1820
prairie rose1822
Boursault1826
Banksian rose1827
maiden rose1827
moss1829
Noisette1829
seven sisters rose1830
Dundee rambler1834
Banksia rose1835
Chickasaw rose1835
Bourbon1836
climbing rose1836
green rose1837
hybrid China1837
Jaune Desprez1837
Lamarque1837
perpetual1837
pillar rose1837
rambler1837
wax rose1837
rugosa1840
China1844
Manetti1846
Banksian1847
remontant1847
gallica1848
hybrid perpetual1848
Persian Yellow1848
pole rose1848
monthly1849
tea rose1850
quarter sessions rose1851
Gloire de Dijon1854
Jacqueminot1857
Maréchal Niel1864
primrose1864
jack1867
La France1868
tea1869
Ramanas rose1876
Japanese rose1883
polyantha1883
old rose1885
American Beauty1887
hybrid tea1890
Japan rose1895
roselet1896
floribunda1898
Zéphirine Drouhin1901
Penzance briar1902
Dorothy Perkins1903
sweetheart1905
wichuraiana1907
mermaid1918
species rose1930
sweetheart rose1936
peace1944
shrub rose1948
1918 Rose Ann. 148 The most sensational Rose among Climbers of the year was undoubtedly that fine Hybrid, Mermaid. The huge golden lemon single flowers charmed everyone who saw it.
1922 T. G. W. Henslow Rose Encycl. xix. 409/2 Mermaid..Wm Paul & Son 1918:—Flower sulphury yellow,..of great size, single, produced continuously from early summer till late in autumn.
1965 G. S. Thomas Climbing Roses iv. 62 A few old roses.., and some newer varieties like ‘Mermaid’ and ‘New Dawn’, show that grace and recurrence of bloom can be combined.
1995 C. Brickell Garden Plants 71/1 Rosa ‘Mermaid’..combines beautifully with the light-blue Clematis ‘Perle d'Azur’.
Compounds
C1. † mermaid fish n. Obsolete the angel shark, Squatina squatina.† mermaid pie n. Obsolete a sucking pig baked whole in a crust.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > fish > subclass Elasmobranchii > order Pleurotremata > [noun] > angel-fish or monk-fish
monkfish1582
sea-monk1611
sea-devil1634
kingston1666
angelfish1668
skate1668
piper1673
mermaid fish1738
fiddle-fish1748
fiddler1750
monk1756
angel shark1776
shark-ray1836
puppy-fish1880
squat1884
sea-angel1891
1738 P. Artedi Ichthyologia iii. 67 Squalus... Squatina & Angelus Marinus Latinorum... The monk- or Angel-fish Anglis aliis Mermaid fish.
1758 W. Borlase Nat. Hist. Cornwall 265 The monk or angel-fish (otherwise termed the Mermaid-fish, as Artedi says).
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > pastry > pie > [noun] > meat-pie
rafiolea1425
shred-pie1573
Florentine1579
marrowbone pie1595
marrow pie1598
meat pie1607
mutton pie1607
olive pie1615
venison piea1616
flesh-pie1616
veal (and ham) piea1625
godiveau1653
lumber-pie1656
mermaid pie1661
umble-pie1663
humble piea1665
trotter-pie1693
stump pie1695
mugget pie1696
pot-pie1702
squab-pie1708
pork pie1723
steak pie1723
Perigord pie1751
pasticcio1772
fidget pie1790
muggety pie1800
numble pie1822
Florentine pie1823
pastilla1834
kidney-pie1836
beef-steak pie1841
stand pie1872
Melton Mowbray1875
timbale1880
pâté en croûte1929
tourtière1953
growler1989
1661 W. Rabisha Whole Body Cookery 175 To bake a Pigg to be eaten cold, called a Maremaid Pie.
1723 J. Nott Cook's & Confectioner's Dict. sig. T To make a Mermaid Pye. Scald a Pig, bone it; [etc.].
mermaid weed n. U.S. any of several small creeping North American or Caribbean swamp plants of the genus Proserpinaca (family Haloragaceae), esp. P. palustris, having dimorphic leaves with the submerged ones pinnatifid, and P. pectinata, having all the leaves pinnatifid.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > aquatic, marsh, and sea-shore plants > [noun] > other aquatic plants
sea-purslane1548
frog-bit1578
heartwort1578
milkwort1578
water dragon1578
water-liverwort1578
water milfoil1578
water milfoil1578
water radish1578
arrowhead1597
saltwort1597
water archer1597
calla1601
water-rocket1605
sea rocket1611
water archer1617
water chickweed1633
water purslane1633
arsesmart1640
water hyssop1653
water thyme1655
water serpent1659
Myriophyllum1754
least water plantain1756
mud-weed1756
Thalia1756
water-leaf1756
marsh liverwort1760
bastard plantain1762
wool-weed1765
Ruppia1770
goat's foot1773
pipewort1776
blinking chickweed1777
mudwort1789
arrowleaf1805
water-target1814
water willow1814
felwort1816
water shield1817
mermaid weed1822
mud plantain1822
hydrilla1824
blinks1835
crystalwort1846
naiad1846
waterwort1846
arrow weed1848
willow-thorn1857
lattice leaf1866
marsh flower1866
bonnet1869
lattice plant1877
sea-ash1884
alligator weed1887
water parsley1891
water hyacinth1897
lirio1926
neverwet1927
1822 A. Eaton Botany (ed. 2) 383 Proserpinaca palustris, mermaid weed, leaves linear-lanceolate, serrate above water.
1845 A. Wood Class-bk. Bot. ii. 137 P[roserpinaca] palustris. Spear-leaved Mermaid-weed.
1940 C. C. Deam Flora of Indiana 712 Mermaid weed [occurs]..in the low sedge borders of lakes, in swamps, [etc.].
1971 F. C. Craighead Trees S. Florida I. ii. 54 Some [solution] holes are occupied with one species exclusively; these may be liverworts, swamp ferns,..mermaid weed, [etc.].
C2. Compounds with mermaid's.† mermaid's-egg n. Obsolete rare = mermaid's purse n.† mermaid's fish-lines n. Obsolete rare the seaweed, Chorda filum; sea-lace.† mermaid's head n. Obsolete a sea urchin, esp. a heart urchin.† mermaid's trumpet n. Obsolete rare the shell of a gastropod mollusc of the superfamily Trochacea or Neritacea, perhaps one of the genus Nerites.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > fish > subclass Elasmobranchii > order Hypotremata > [noun] > family Rajidae > member of genus Raia (skate) > part
mermaid's purse1700
sea-pincushion1799
skate-rumple1823
sea purse1836
skate-barrow1851
sea-barrow1860
mermaid's-egg1890
1890 Cent. Dict. Mermaid's-egg, same as mermaid's purse.
ΚΠ
1890 Cent. Dict. at Mermaid Mermaid's fish-lines, a common seaweed, Chorda filum.
mermaid's glove n. (also mermaid's gloves) a marine organism in some way resembling a glove; spec. (a) the sponge Halichondria palmata; (b) dead man's fingers (or hand), Alcyonium digitatum.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > subkingdom Parazoa > phylum Porifera > class Demospongiae > [noun] > order Ceraospongiae > member of > halichondria palmata (mermaid's glove)
mermaid's glove1793
the world > animals > invertebrates > subkingdom Metazoa > grade Diploblastica > phylum Coelenterata > [noun] > class Anthozoa Actinozoa > order Alcyonaria > genus Alcyonium > member of
sea-foam1725
dead man's hand1755
dead man's toes1755
mermaid's glove1793
alcyonian1844
alcyonoid1857
dead man's finger1860
alcyonarian1861
dead man's thumb1863
sea-finger1876
1793 J. Sinclair Statist. Acct. Scotl. V. 186 The sponge, called Mermaid's glove, is often taken up, upon this coast, by the fishermen's hooks.
1808 R. Forsyth Beauties Scotl. V. 138 The sponge called mermaid's glove.
1865 P. H. Gosse Year at Shore 74 The animal is sometimes, however, called cow's paps, and sometimes mermaid's gloves.
1957 Encycl. Brit. XXI. 254/1 (caption) Mermaid's glove (Desmacidon fruticosum).
1994 E. Hajdu et al. in R. W. M. van Soest et al. Sponges in Time & Space 141 (title) Affinities of the ‘mermaid's glove’ sponge Isodictya palmata, with a discussion on the synapomorphic value of chelae microscleres.
mermaid's hair n. any of various filamentous seaweeds, esp. Lyngbya majuscula.
ΚΠ
1882 W. G. Farlow Marine Algæ New Eng. in Rep. Commissioner 1879 (U.S. Comm. Fish & Fisheries) VII. App. A. 12 A few filamentous species [of Nostochineæ algae] attain a length of some inches but only one, Lyngbya majuscula, is sufficiently striking to have gained a popular name—mermaid's hair.
1901 A. F. Arnold Sea-beach at Ebb-tide (ed. 2) 50 L. majuscula, mermaid's-hair.
1947 I. L. Idriess Isles of Despair xxxv. 233 In a beauty of flowers pulsing with life, ‘mermaids' hair’ floating out seeking to entwine her.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > subkingdom Metazoa > grade Triploblastica or Coelomata > phylum Echinodermata > [noun] > subphylum Eleutherozoa > class Echinoidea > order Spatangoidea > member of genus Spatangus
mermaid's head1662
heart urchin1830
sea-bun1882
1662 J. Ray Three Itin. iii. 169 A pretty shell covered with prickles or bristles, which the Welch call mermaid's heads.
1855 C. Kingsley Glaucus 94 Which of your organs is represented by that ‘sca'd man's head’, which the Devon children more gracefully..call ‘mermaid's head’?
mermaid's lace n. (a) a kind of coralline alga; (b) a type of Venetian needlelace regarded as resembling a coralline alga (also called coralline point).
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric manufactured in specific way > [noun] > consisting of loops or looped stitches > lace > needle or point > types of
point de Venise1668
French point1675
point d'Espagne1676
Alençon lace1774
point de France1774
point-net1829
rose-point1832
point de Paris1840
point d'Alençon1842
point d'Argentan1842
Irish point1851
point d'aiguille1851
point de gaze1863
Venetian point1864
Burano lace1865
Greek lace1865
gros point1865
mermaid's lace1865
point de neige1865
punto a rilievo1865
punto in aria1865
Regency point1865
Venice point1865
point de reprise1872
point russe1872
Greek point1882
hollie point1882
Venetian raised point1882
point de minute1886
point de Sorrentoc1890
1865 F. B. Palliser Hist. Lace 46 In the islands of the Lagune there still lingers a tale of the first origin of this most charming production. A sailor youth..brought home to his betrothed a bunch of that pretty coralline known..as the mermaid's lace. The girl..imitated it with her needle, and..produced that delicate guipure which before long became the taste of all Europe.
1882 S. F. A. Caulfeild & B. C. Saward Dict. Needlework 345/1 Mermaids Lace. A name sometimes given to fine Venetian Points, from the legend of a lace maker having copied the seaweed known as Mermaid—making of it one of the patterns in Venetian Point.
1900 E. Jackson Hist. Hand-made Lace 182 Mermaid's Lace. A name sometimes given to Venetian points on account of the legend of the invention of bobbin lace by a fisher girl, whose lover caught a piece of white coralline in his net, the graceful stuff being imitated by the girl as she twisted the ends and weights of the net as bobbins are twisted.
mermaid's purse n. the horny egg-case of a skate, ray, or shark (also called sea purse).
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > fish > subclass Elasmobranchii > order Pleurotremata > [noun] > member of (shark) > parts of
serpent's tongue1578
mermaid's purse1700
spiracle1796
sea purse1836
the world > animals > fish > subclass Elasmobranchii > order Hypotremata > [noun] > family Rajidae > member of family Rajidae (ray) > part of
virgula1661
mermaid's purse1700
sea purse1836
the world > animals > fish > subclass Elasmobranchii > order Hypotremata > [noun] > family Rajidae > member of genus Raia (skate) > part
mermaid's purse1700
sea-pincushion1799
skate-rumple1823
sea purse1836
skate-barrow1851
sea-barrow1860
mermaid's-egg1890
1700 R. Wodrow Early Lett. (1937) 111 The marmaids purses Dr Sibbald calls the uterus of a skate.
1836 W. Yarrell Hist. Brit. Fishes II. 368 These cases..are called Mermaid's purses.
1936 F. S. Russell & C. M. Yonge Seas (ed. 2) iv. 81 The ‘mermaid's purse’ is of course merely the case in which the egg lies.
1990 Birds Summer 81/2 I was called to explain a mermaid's purse and lost them [sc. two black redstarts] to a foolhardy crab, dancing the samba, showing off to the weans.
mermaid's tresses n. any of several filamentous algae, esp. freshwater species of the genus Spirogyra and marine species of the genera Cladophora and Chorda.
ΚΠ
1926 F. E. Lloyd in Sci. Monthly 22 330/1 This plant,..‘mermaids' tresses’,..bears a scientific name both euphonious and graphic, Spirogyra.
1942 C. J. Hylander World of Plant Life 34 Cladophora is a small tufted plant averaging less than six inches in length, made up of densely branching filaments. It is often called Mermaids Tresses.
1963 C. I. Dickinson Brit. Seaweeds 81 Chorda filum... The plants are very tough.., growing..in twisted masses. They have been known to entangle the swimmer and are not without reason called ‘Dead Men's Ropes’. Other names in use are ‘Mermaid's Tresses’ and ‘Cat Gut’.
1989 Encycl. Brit. XI. 105/1 Spirogyra, also called water-silk, mermaid's tresses, or pond scum, genus of unbranched filamentous green algae, found in fresh water.
ΚΠ
1668 W. Charleton Onomasticon Zoicon 182 Nerites..the Mere-maids Trumpet.
Derivatives
ˈmermaid-like adv. and adj.
ΚΠ
a1593 C. Marlowe Hero & Leander (1598) ii. sig. Eiijv Mermaid-like vnto the floore she slid, One halfe appear'd the other halfe was hid.
1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iv. vii. 148 There she sate smiling, Euen Mermaide-like, twixt heauen and earth.
1909 Westm. Gaz. 11 Jan. 5/1 This mermaid-like drapery appears to be the natural development of our attachment to Directoire lines.
1977 National Geographic Apr. 500/1 Young Kunga, so the shaman hissed, had angered a klumo, a blue mermaidlike guardian of springs and streams.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2001; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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