merle
1or merl
[ murl ]
/ mɜrl /
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noun Chiefly Scot.
the blackbird, Turdus merula.
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Origin of merle
11350–1400; Middle English merule<Middle French <Latin merulus, merula ousel, blackbird
Other definitions for merle (2 of 3)
merle2
[ murl ]
/ mɜrl /
noun
a bluish gray color mottled with black.
adjective
being the color merle.
Origin of merle
2First recorded in 1900–05; origin uncertain
Other definitions for merle (3 of 3)
Merle
[ murl ]
/ mɜrl /
noun
a male or female given name.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use merle in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for merle (1 of 2)
Word Origin for merle
C15: via Old French from Latin merula
British Dictionary definitions for merle (2 of 2)
merle2
/ (mɜːl) /
adjective
(of a dog, esp a collie) having a bluish-grey coat with speckles or streaks of blackOften called: blue merle
Word Origin for merle
C20: from dialect mirlet, mirly speckled
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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