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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Mermaid \Mer"maid\, n. [AS. mere lake, sea. See {Mere} lake, and
{maid}.]
A fabled marine creature, typically represented as having the
upper part like that of a woman, and the lower like a fish; a
sea nymph, sea woman, or woman fish.
[1913 Webster]

Note: Chaucer uses this word as equivalent to the siren of
the ancients.
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{Mermaid fish} (Zool.) the angel fish ({Squatina}).

{Mermaid's glove} (Zool.), a British branched sponge somewhat
resembling a glove.

{Mermaid's head} (Zool.), a European spatangoid sea urchin
({Echinocardium cordatum}) having some resemblance to a
skull.

{Mermaid weed} (Bot.), an aquatic herb with dentate or
pectinate leaves ({Proserpinaca palustris} and
{Proserpinaca pectinacea}).
[1913 Webster]