Word of the Week – Mermaid

I totally should have done this one during “mer-May,” but alas. I’m behind. 😉 Even so, this week we’ll be looking at the history of the word (and hence the myths) of mermaids, which were often equated with sirens. 

Mermaid dates as an English word from around the mid-1300s, when it was spelled meremayde, literally “maid of the sea.” These fabled creatures with the upper body of a woman and the lower body of a fish have been around since the way-ancient days…and they weren’t exactly Ariel. Most mythology portrays mermaids as creatures who work harm against mortals, sometimes intentionally. They were malignant, generally speaking.

Old English had a word for the creatures too, but called them merewif, “water witch.” Interestingly, tales of the creatures from northern Europe have them without the fishy tale.

I readily admit I’ve always loved mermaid stories (what can I say–The Little Mermaid came out when I was 7, so…), hence the mer in Awakened. I have definitely noted that mermaids in many fantasy books are horrific creatures, which is certainly in keeping with that original lore…and mine certainly start out with a violent streak too.

Are you a fan of mermaid stories?

Word Nerds Merch!