merle1
or merl
[murl]
- the blackbird, Turdus merula.
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Origin of merle1
1350–1400; Middle English merule < Middle French < Latin merulus, merula ousel, blackbird
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for merl
Contemporary Examples
Merl Reagle, otherwise known as “King of the Crossword,” knows exactly how you feel.
The Crossword Puzzle Turns 100: The ‘King of Crossword’ on Its Strange HistoryKevin Fallon
December 21, 2013
Historical Examples
Why, where on earth could you have made acquaintance with a man called Merl?
The Martins Of Cro' Martin, Vol. II (of II)Charles James Lever
"Not in the least," said Merl, rising and stretching his legs.
The Martins Of Cro' Martin, Vol. II (of II)Charles James Lever
"I tell you again, I'd not take it as a present," said Merl, half angrily.
The Martins Of Cro' Martin, Vol. II (of II)Charles James Lever
"The man who can win at rouge-et-noir can do anything, in my opinion," said Merl.
The Martins Of Cro' Martin, Vol. II (of II)Charles James Lever
Well, Merl, what do you say to Sir Spencer's taste in horseflesh?
The Martins Of Cro' Martin, Vol. II (of II)Charles James Lever
merle1
merl
- Scot another name for the (European) blackbird
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Word Origin
C15: via Old French from Latin merula
merle2
- (of a dog, esp a collie) having a bluish-grey coat with speckles or streaks of blackOften called: blue merle
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Word Origin
C20: from dialect mirlet, mirly speckled
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
Word Origin and History for merl
merle
n.
"blackbird," late 15c., from Old French merle "blackbird" (12c.), from Latin merulus "blackbird," from PIE *ams- "black, blackbird" (cf. Old English osle "blackbird;" see ouzel). The word owes its survival in modern times to its use by Scottish poets. The Latin word shows effects of rhotacism. It also is the source of Provençal and Spanish merla, Portuguese merlo, and Italian merla. Borrowed from French are Middle Dutch and German merle, Dutch meerle.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper