The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Mermaid \Mer"maid\, n. [AS. mere lake, sea. See Mere lake, and
   maid.]
   A fabled marine creature, typically represented as having the
   upper part like that of a woman, and the lower like a fish; a
   sea nymph, sea woman, or woman fish.
   [1913 Webster]

   Note: Chaucer uses this word as equivalent to the siren of
         the ancients.
         [1913 Webster]

   Mermaid fish (Zool.) the angel fish (Squatina).

   Mermaid's glove (Zool.), a British branched sponge somewhat
      resembling a glove.

   Mermaid's head (Zool.), a European spatangoid sea urchin
      (Echinocardium cordatum) having some resemblance to a
      skull.

   Mermaid weed (Bot.), an aquatic herb with dentate or
      pectinate leaves (Proserpinaca palustris and
      Proserpinaca pectinacea).
      [1913 Webster]