merkin

Meaning

Noun

• A woman's pubic wig. Worn for nude stage appearances and by women, originally after shaving their pubic hair to eliminate lice or for other reasons, now often as a fashion item.
• A mop for cleaning cannon.
• The male counterpart of a beard, a companion to a lesbian to feign her straightness.
• An American.

Origin

• 1617, probably a variant form of malkin, from Malde + -kin.
• Representing an aphetic pronunciation of American.