merkin \Mer"kin, n. Originally, a wig; afterwards, a mop for cleaning cannon.
Source: Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Interesting in that the type of wig is not specified, but the derivative is quite suggestive.
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Please include a link to Cecil’s column if it’s on the straight dope web site.
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Cecil’s column can be found on-line at this link:
What is a merkin? (21-May-1993)
The column can also be found on pages 232-234 of Cecil Adams’ book “Return of the Straight Dope”.