Interesting stuff. I’d heard about them but knew very little. Movie trivia: The Adlai Stevenson-eseque President of the United States in Dr. Strangelove, played by Peter Sellers, is named Merkin Muffley.
Wow, I know Cecil’s been doing this awhile and must be getting tired, but still, all he had to do was crack a book…specifically, The Dictionary of Early English by Joseph T. Shipley (Introduction by Mark Van Doren):
merkin. This is a variant of malkin, a diminutive of Maud. Malkin became a general term of contempt, meaning a slattern; then it was applied to a mop or (in the navy) to a sponge on a stick, for cleaning cannon; also to a scarecrow or grotesque effigy. It was also used as a name for a witch (in Shakespeare’s MACBETH, 1605, Grimalkin, gray malkin), hence, for a cat. In the form merkin, a pussy, it was used for the female “pudendum” and also (15th to 18th century) for a wig or counterfeit hair for a woman’s privy parts. Just as the small-pox (so common that, in the 18th century, servants were sought that had already recovered from the disease, hence could not contract it and infect their masters) disfigured the face, so the great pox often left traces farther down, which a merkin might mercifully mask.
…I accept that staff position, and the corner office will be fine.
-MidgardTree
Many many years ago an episode of Lassie was filmed on location in the jurisdiction of the local stagehands union to which I belonged, and one of my friends got a call to work the shoot. His big takeaway from the job was to be able to report that the dog who played Lassie was really a “Laddie” who wore a merkin to hide his otherwise obvious maleness. I’ve never forgotten the word.
For what it’s worth… I first heard this term from my mother, and it refers to a genital toupee worn by women. From what she said, Oriental men generally preferred their women clean shaven. But US soldiers during WWII and/or the Korean War (she never divulged which) found this alien and preferred pubic hair. Thus prostitutes would keep themselves shaved for their Oriental johns, and would wear a merkin for their US customers.
Whether this is true or not I have no idea. But my grandfather served in WWII, and my father served during the Korean War… so I suspect there’s an element of truth to this somewhere.
Another definition I’ve heard-The man lesbians go out with socially, to appear straight. (i.e. male “beard”)
MODERATOR’S COMMENT: Migard Tree, first, welcome to the Straight Dope Message Boards, glad you’ve joined us. Second: there was already a thread on this topic, a few hours earlier than when you started yours. Hence, I’ve merged 'em. No prob, no harm, no foul; just tidying up.
This topic was one of the funniest ones I’ve read. Thank you.
Huh.
Before posting, I did a search for merkin (suspecting there’d already be a thread), & the only thing that came up was Cecil’s article…
Anyhow, thnx for moving me to the right place!
-MidgardTree