·noun 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.
A fabulous sea-creature of which the upper half was said to resemble a woman, the lower half a fish....
The Sailor's Word-Book
1) South out of Great Carter Lane, in Castle Baynard Ward, near Addle Hill (Boyle, 1799). Called : ...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
1) In Cornhill. Rent out of this tavern given for the poor of the parish of St. Peter Cornhill, 1606...