mermaid: [14] A mermaid is literally a ‘seamaiden’. The word was coined on the basis of English mere [OE], which is now a little-used term for ‘lake’, but originally denoted ‘sea’ (it came ultimately from Indo-European *mori-, *mari- ‘sea’, which also produced German meer ‘sea’ and Latin mare ‘sea’, source of French mer and English marine). Mermaid served in due course as a model for merman [17]. => marine, mere
mermaid (n.)
mid-14c., mermayde, literally "maid of the sea," from Middle English mere "sea, lake" (see mere (n.)) + maid. Old English had equivalent merewif "water-witch" (see wife), meremenn "mermaid, siren." Tail-less in northern Europe; the fishy form is a medieval influence from classical sirens. A favorite sign of taverns and inns since at least early 15c. (in reference to the inn on Bread Street, Cheapside, London). Mermaid pie (1660s) was "a sucking pig baked whole in a crust."
雙語例句
1. "I found a mermaid."— 'Don't be daft. There's no such thing.'
“我發(fā)現(xiàn)了一條美人魚。”——“別說傻話了。哪有那種東西。”
來自柯林斯例句
2. The Mermaid Company will present'Hamlet'next week.
美人魚劇團將于下周演出 " 哈姆雷特 ".
來自辭典例句
3. How popular would that girl be with the only mermaid mom!
和人魚媽媽在一起,那個女孩會有多受歡迎!
來自電影對白
4. A mermaid's tail turns to legs when it's dry, even when it's dead.