English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈmɜːkɪn/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)kɪn

Noun

merkin ‎(plural merkins)

1. 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.
2. A mop for cleaning cannon.
3. (LGBT, slang) The male counterpart of a beard, a companion to a lesbian to feign her straightness.
   • 1996 Jan 10, Colin Wright, "Tori Spelling & Patrick Muldoon on NBC Movie", alt.showbiz.gossip, Usenet

     Well, I seem to recall Tori and Patrick being seen together, and a reference in People comes to mind, with a photo attached. I'm not for sure that Patrick is completely gay, but he's at least bi according to a person I know with first hand experience. Perhaps we have a dual merkin-beard relationship here, eh?

Translations

See also

• codpiece
• vonk

Etymology 2

From the similar pronunciation to American.

Alternative forms

• 'merkin, Merkin, 'Merkin; murkin, 'murkin, Murkin, 'Murkin

Noun

merkin ‎(plural merkins)

1. (Britain, slang, pejorative) An American.

Finnish

Noun

merkin

1. Genitive singular form of merkki.

Icelandic

Noun

merkin

1. definite nominative plural of merki
2. definite accusative plural of merki