What is Pickled Mermaid?
1.
A lifelike miniature model of a mermaid floating in a sealed jar, meant as an amusing toy or circus attraction, to create the illusion that a real mermaid has been captured. It is primarily an anachronism dating from early European colonialism and its sea-spanning knick-knack industries, and has since acquired vaguely occult connotations.
Sometimes the phrase is borrowed by clever marketers, such as for items in restaurant menus.
Robert loved the museum: the frail mummies and immense sarcophagi; the stuffed platypus and pickled mermaid; the wall bristling with elephant tusks and moose antlers and unicorn horns. -- "Stories of Your Life and Others" by Ted Chiang
See
Random Words:
1.
When zombies have an unfair advantage over you. Mainly used to describe their speed, as zombies are supposed to be slow, lumbering crea..
1.
Something you say when you are reminded of something.
I've found it used most in California.
Do you think that Billy is gay?
We ..
