Added 10 October 2026
mermaid
/ˈmɜːˌmeɪd/ noun
In Latin: Sīrēn, oceanide, Nereis Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about mermaid at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
Origin
From Middle English mermayde (“maid of the sea”), from mere (“sea, lake”) + maid, equivalent to mer- + maid. Cognate with Dutch meermeid (“mermaid”), Middle High German mermaget, mermeit (“mermaid”, > German Meermagd, Meermädchen (“mermaid”)). Compare Old English meremenn, meremennen, meremenin (“mermaid, siren”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)