mercow
English edit
Etymology edit
From mer- + cow, modelled after sea-cow.
Noun edit
mercow (plural mercows)
- Any of several marine mammals of the order Sirenia, including the manatee and dugong; sea-cow.
- 2002, Will Shetterly, Dogland:
- Ma ruffled my crew cut. "If you'd been the lookout, you'd've told them these were sea cows, not mermaids, right?" "Right," I said. "Mercows," said Mr. Drake behind us. "Moo. Glub glub glub. Moo."
- 2012, QI: quite interesting facts about mythical creatures - Telegraph:
- Mercow. The description of pretty mermaids frolicking in the water is so widespread that it was thought there must be a real creature lurking behind the legends.