maniken

Maniken is a term that can refer to several things, primarily a type of artist's model or a mannequin. In the context of art, a maniken is a life-size or smaller model of the human figure, often made of wood, plastic, or plaster, used by artists to study anatomy and proportion or to pose for drawing, painting, or sculpting. These models are typically articulated, allowing for a range of poses.

Alternatively, maniken is sometimes used as a synonym for mannequin, which is a freestanding, jointed doll used by artists, tailors, dressmakers, and window dressers. These are often used to display clothing in shops or to create realistic human figures for various purposes. The term can also refer to a medical training dummy used for practicing procedures like cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The etymology of the word "maniken" can be traced back to the Dutch word "manneken," meaning "little man." While the terms maniken and mannequin are often used interchangeably, "mannequin" is more commonly used for display figures, while "maniken" might lean more towards artistic or medical models.