sea monkey

English

Etymology

Genericized trademark from the brand name Sea-Monkeys.

Noun

sea monkey (plural sea monkeys)

1. A brine shrimp, sold as a novelty aquarium pet.
   • 1973, “SEA-MONKEYS (advertisement)”, in Raggedy Ann and Andy Comics, page 13:

     Please send my Sea-Monkey kit(s) and my FREE supplies and guarantee. I must be 100% satisfied or you will refund my money.

   • 2008, Anna Nicholas, Cat on a Hot Tiled Roof: Mayhem in Mayfair and Mallorca:

     'I think one of my sea monkeys is ill.'
     He holds the small plastic sea tank aloft and points at a black speck the size of a pinhead.

   • 2011, Linus Christian Rollman, Greg Logan Neps, Crocodiles and Coconuts, page 44:

     Greg is a sea monkey farmer. Every year he sells 4.5% of his herd (if that's what you'd call a group of sea monkeys) at the international sea monkey auction.