Editing Merrow (section)

==Synonyms==
The terms ''{{lang|ga|muirgeilt}}'', ''{{lang|ga|samguba}}'', and ''{{lang|ga|suire}}'' been listed as synonymous to "mermaid" or "sea nymph".{{sfnp|Croker|1828|loc='''II''', 17}} These are Old or Middle Irish words, and usage are attested in medieval tracts.{{r|eDIL-muirgeilt}}{{r|eDIL-suire}}{{r|eDIL-samguba}} Other modern Irish terms for mermaid are given in O'Reilly's dictionary (1864);<ref>''guidheamhain'', {{harvp|O'Reilly|O'Donovan|1864|p=296}}; ''maighdean-mhara'', p. 345; ''moruach'', p. 369; ''muirgheilt, muirimhgeach'', p. 371.</ref> one of them, ''{{lang|ga|{{linktext|maighdean mhara}}}}'' ("sea-maiden"), being the common term for "mermaid" in Irish today (cf. [[Tomás de Bhaldraithe|de Bhaldraithe]]'s dictionary, 1959).{{r|higgins}}

The term ''{{lang|ga|muirgeilt}}'', literally "sea-wanderer", has been applied, among other uses, to {{lang|ga|[[Lí Ban (mermaid)|Lí Ban]]}}, a legendary figure who underwent metamorphosis into a salmon-woman.{{r|"eDIL-muirgeilt"}}{{sfnp|O'Donovan|1856|loc='''I''', p.&nbsp;201}}

Strictly speaking, the term ''{{lang|ga|samguba}}'' in the ''{{lang|ga|[[Dindsenchas]]}}'' example signifies "mermaid's melody".{{sfnp|Stokes|1895|loc=''RC'' XVI, 31–33}} However, [[Michael O'Clery|O'Clery]]'s Glossary explains that this was rhetorically the "name of the nymphs that are in the sea".{{r|"oclerys-glossary"}}{{r|eDIL-samguba}} The term ''{{lang|ga|suire}}'' for "mermaid" also finds instance in the ''{{lang|ga|Dinsenchas}}''.{{sfnp|Stokes|1894|loc=''RC'' XV, 432–434}} Croker also vaguely noted that ''{{lang|ga|suire}}'' has been used by "romantic historians" in reference to the "sea-nymphs" enountered by Milesian ships.{{sfnp|Croker|1828|loc='''II''', 17}}{{Refn|group="lower-alpha"|A claim identical to Croker had been made earlier by [[Charles Vallancey|Vallancey]] writing in 1786,{{r|"vallancey"}} except the latter identified the historian as [[Geoffrey Keating]]. In Keating's ''[[Foras Feasa ar Éirinn|History]]'', mermaids (''{{lang|ga|murrdhúchainn}}'') were encountered by Goidels,{{r|"keating"}} and in O'Clery's ''Book of Invasion'', mermaids (''{{lang|ga|murduchann}}'') were witnessed by Milesians, but neither are instance of ''{{lang|ga|suire}}'' being used. It may be noted that O'Clery's glossary does gloss ''{{lang|ga|súire}}'' as equivalent to ''murduchann''". {{r|"oclerys-glossary"}}}}