an imaginary creature described in stories, with the upper body of a man and the tail of a fish

According to legend, giant squid were once thought to be mermen. 根据传说，巨大的乌贼曾一度被认为是雄性人鱼。

She read the tale of a merman caught in a fisherman's net. 她读过关于一条雄性人鱼被鱼网捕获的故事。