In popular speech, Chilango notes, the word merolico is linked to “una persona muy habladora” (a very talkative person).
According to México Desconocido, the word comes from Juan Rafael de Meraulyock, who arrived in Mexico in 1879 and sold remedies. He “pregonaba tener bálsamos para curar todos los padecimientos conocidos y por conocer” (proclaimed that he had balms to cure every ailment known and yet to be known). This origin rests on popular history, and the spelling of his name varies.