English
merman
Merman comes from Middle English mereman, and goes back to Old English *meremann.
- Old Englishc. 450–1150*meremannreconstructed
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500mereman
- Englishearliest quotation 1653merman
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Old Englishc. 450–1150*meremannreconstructed
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500mereman
- Englishearliest quotation 1653merman
Earliest quotation: 1653, The Loves of Hero and Leander: A Mock Po, London: “The meer man hath no feet but fins And…”
Every English word from Old English *meremann
Today it means
noun A legendary creature, human male from the waist up, fishlike from the waist down.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Old English *meremann / merman