merbeast

Etymology

From mer- + beast.

Why this word is great

MERBEAST — [Noun] A mythical creature of the sea, often monstrous or wondrous in form. From mer- (relating to the sea, as in mermaid) + beast (an animal, often large or wild), it is the broadest term for the uncatalogued horrors and marvels that lurk beneath the waves. Unlike "mermaid" (which demands a half-human grace) or "kraken" (which implies tentacled enormity), "merbeast" embraces the full spectrum of aquatic nightmares and wonders. It is the sinuous shadow gliding just beyond the ship’s lantern light, the barnacled jaws rising from a sudden whirlpool, the phosphorescent eye the size of a wagon wheel glimpsed for one heart-stopping moment before vanishing—proof that the sea keeps its oldest secrets well.

noun

  1. A beast of the sea, especially one which is mythical; a mercreature.“Prince Mador straddled a merbeast behind.”