# just the mervrow thing

*The Whorl list — 2 messages, 2 voices, 18 Apr 2000*

<https://urth.darkrealm.vip/thread/whorl/823>

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### shannon wilde
*18 Apr 2000, 21:16*

um, I seem to recall a reference somewhere (erudite
ones, help) of Dutch seamen taking "sea wives" for
their extended journeys of exploration and trade,
ports and tropical isles not always being convenient. 
So the term "mervrow(frow, etc.) came into use as a
not-particularly pejorative term.  After all, these
weren't just casual fling type relationships, and they
served more than one vital function, deserving of
respect in their own right, plus of course the usual
status of captain's lady.  If anyone can back me up,
i'd be most grateful, but i feel pretty sure of this. 
 Tottergrass

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### Alastair Reynolds
*19 Apr 2000, 07:23 · follows shannon wilde*

> um, I seem to recall a reference somewhere (erudite
> ones, help) of Dutch seamen taking "sea wives" for
> their extended journeys of exploration and trade,
> ports and tropical isles not always being convenient. 
> So the term "mervrow(frow, etc.) came into use as a
> not-particularly pejorative term.  After all, these
> weren't just casual fling type relationships, and they
> served more than one vital function, deserving of
> respect in their own right, plus of course the usual
> status of captain's lady.  If anyone can back me up,
> i'd be most grateful, but i feel pretty sure of this. 
>  Tottergrass

Fascinating - and given the general permeation of Dutch
culture by things maritime, more than believable. 

Al

*This is WHORL, for discussion of Gene Wolfe's Book of the Long Sun.

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