mermaid

Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Acronyms, Wikipedia.

mermaid,

in folklore, sea-dwelling creature commonly represented as having the head and body of a woman and a fishtail instead of legs. Belief in mermaids, and in their counterpart, mermen, has existed since earliest times. They are often described as having great beauty and charm, which they use to lure sailors to their deaths (see SirenSiren
, in Greek mythology, one of three sea nymphs, usually represented with the head of a woman and the body of a bird. Daughters of Phorcus or of Achelous, the Sirens inhabited an island surrounded by dangerous rocks.
..... Click the link for more information. ). In some legends they assumed human shape and married mortals (see MélusineMélusine
or Melusina
, in French legend, a fairy who changed into a serpent from the waist down every Saturday. She married a mortal, Count Raymond, said to be the ancestor of the house of Lusignan, and made him promise never to visit her on that day.
..... Click the link for more information. ). The origin of the mermaid is thought by some to be the dugong (see sireniansirenian
or sea cow,
name for a large aquatic mammal of the order Sirenia. Living sirenians are the dugong and the manatee, both found in warm, shallow waters in sheltered regions, where they feed on seaweeds and seagrasses.
..... Click the link for more information. ).

What does it mean when you dream about a mermaid?

A mermaid or merman is a double symbol of our instinctual life because (1) a merperson is half animal, and (2) a merperson is at home in the water, a potent symbol of the unconscious. So a dream communication from a mermaid or merman is a message from a deeper part of ourselves.

mermaid

half-woman, half-fish; seen by sailors. [western Folklore: Misc.]

See: Sea

mermaid

an imaginary sea creature fabled to have a woman's head and upper body and a fish's tail

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

References in periodicals archive ?

Fort Lauderdale, FL, August 21, 2019 --(PR.com)-- Lilly Pulitzer, a creator of authentic American Resort Wear known for its Bohemian spirit and popular prints has partnered with the 1000 Mermaids Project through their charitable Shop For A Cause program with 10% of proceeds from sales on the day of the event going to the project.

Lilly Pulitzer (Las Olas) Invites Fans of the Iconic Resort Wear Line and the Oceans to Shop For A Cause in Support of the 1000 Mermaids Artificial Reef Project

When we sit down on the deck to slip into our outfits, the kids flock to "Mermaid Cookie"; she's a natural entertainer who also appears at parties and events.

Is 'mermaiding' a real workout?

Mermaid Quay will then crown a winner every Monday during the time BRICKLIVE is in Cardiff.

Fancy winning free ice cream for a year? Mermaid Quay has some fantastic competitions for families; From winning free ice cream to a [pounds sterling]100 wagamama voucher, Mermaid Quay in Cardiff is spoiling families this summer

Mermaid Quay centre manager Justin Patel said: "Lego fans and visitors to the Bay will be able to let their imaginations run wild at our medieval fantasy land of ancient Welsh myths and legends."

Creatures build magic in Bay

In another tweet, Magalona expressed her disbelief that people are getting worked up over a black girl playing 'The Little Mermaid'.

Alluding to Tito Sotto's 'fish' argument, Saab Magalona waxes sarcastic on critics of 'Little Mermaid' casting

Disney's The Little Mermaid remake: Melissa McCarthy 'in talks' for Ursula

The Little Mermaid live-action remake: Release date, cast, plot; The Little Mermaid is being remade into a live-action film by Disney

Coney Island attracts thousands of people from all over the world to its Mermaid Parade every year.

Coney Island Comes Alive With The Mermaid Day Parade

"I am known as Kat the Tattooed Mermaid because of all my ink work.

Katrina's making a splash as a mermaid; LIFE. EDITED BY SALLY MCLEAN Growing up, Katrina Comiskey aspired to be like Disney's Ariel and enjoy adventures under the sea. Now, after years of hard work, she has made her dream a reality and is entertaining families with underwater antics

Cosy Club's venue in Mermaid Quay, which created 40 new jobs, is the group's second site in the city.

Street food chain to bring taste of US to Cardiff Bay

The trust held its first Pirates and Mermaids evening at the venue on Friday, with plenty of activities for families.

Shiver my timbers, look who it is!

On the one hand, the fickle mermaid and her menacing sister, the siren, seem to embody the threatening powers of the vast, unfathomable ocean, a locus of chaos, horror, and danger where humans can never feel safe, comfortable, or at home.

"Half Fish, Half Woman": Annette Kellerman, Mermaids, and Eco-Aquatic Revisioning

The Disney animated classic "The Little Mermaid", based on the fairy tale by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, spurred new interest in the creatures and the way they swim in recent years.