merluccius, merlucius

[Mod. Lat., from Ital. merluzzo =a hake.] Merlon. Ichthy.: A genus of Gadide; body elongate, scales minute, separate caudal, two dorsals, and one anal; ventrals, of seven rays, well developed. Teeth in jaws and on vomer in double or triple series. Two species are known: Merluccius vulgar is , the Hake (q. v.), and M.gay i , from the Straits of Magellan, on the coast of Chili; le common on New Zealand coast. The vertebral column is singularly modified to form a strong roof for the air-bladder. (Günther.) mēr-lû-çi-ŭs, 8. [MERLUCCIUS.] mer-maid, *meremaide, *mere-maid-en, *mer-maid-en, s . [A. S. mere =a lake, a mere; mægd=a maid. A fabulous marine creature, having the upper half like a woman and the lower like a fish; a sea-nymph with a fish's tail. IMG:content-1124.png:[blocks in formation]