merman

[A. S. mere =a mere, a lake, and Eng. man.] The male corresponding to the mermaid (q. v.); a sea-man, with the tail of a fish instead of legs. měr-mis, s . [Gr. mermis=a cord, a string.] Zoōl .: A nematoid genus of worms, some of the species of which are parasitic in insects. Mermis nigrescens emigrates en ma e out of insects in hot weather, and being found on the ground in great numbers give rise to the popular belief that there has been a shower of worms. The larvæ of M. alb i cans especially resort to caterpillars, to the larvæ of other insects, or even to a mollusk, Succinea am phibia.