Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SI'REN, n. [L.; Fr. sirène; It. sirena; from Heb. שור, shur, to sing.]

1. A mermaid. In ancient mythology, a goddess who enticed men into her power by the charms of music, and devoured them. Hence in modern use, an enticing woman; a female rendered dangerous by her enticements. Sing, siren, to thyself, and I will dote. – Shak.
2. A batrachian reptile of Carolina, constituting a peculiar genus, destitute of posterior extremities and pelvis. – Cuvier.