martlet

[ mahrt-lit ]
/ ˈmɑrt lɪt /

noun

British Dialect. a house martin.
Heraldry. a representation of a swallow close and without legs, used especially as the cadency mark of a fourth son.

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Origin of martlet

1530–40; <Middle French martelet, variant of martinet;see martin, -et

Words nearby martlet

Martinsburg, Martinson, Martinsville, Martinů, Martin V, martlet, martnet, martyr, martyrdom, martyrium, martyrize
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for martlet

British Dictionary definitions for martlet

martlet
/ (ˈmɑːtlɪt) /

noun

an archaic name for a martin
heraldry a footless bird often found in coats of arms, standing for either a martin or a swallow

Word Origin for martlet

C16: from French martelet, variant of martinet, diminutive of martin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012