merle

or merl

[ murl ]

/ mɜrl /

noun Chiefly Scot.

the blackbird, Turdus merula.

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Origin of merle

1350–1400; Middle English merule < Middle French < Latin merulus, merula ousel, blackbird

Words nearby merle

meriç, merk, merkel, merkel's corpuscle, merkin, merle, merleau-ponty, merlin, merlo, merlon, merlot

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for merl

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 History|Kevin Fallon|December 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
If Mr. Merl did not exactly occupy any one of these categories, he fancied, at least, that he oscillated amidst them all.
The Martins Of Cro' Martin, Vol. II (of II)|Charles James Lever
There was but one thing that Mr. Merl had perceived never changed, and that was the estimation men felt for money.
The Martins Of Cro' Martin, Vol. II (of II)|Charles James Lever
"Ah, yes,—the Captain said we should get on very well together," drawled out Merl.
The Martins Of Cro' Martin, Vol. II (of II)|Charles James Lever

At last she bethought her of Mr. Merl, and despatched a servant in his pursuit, with a polite request that he would return.
The Martins Of Cro' Martin, Vol. II (of II)|Charles James Lever
Merl is gone to London about this business, and we 'll have to follow him.
The Martins Of Cro' Martin, Vol. II (of II)|Charles James Lever

British Dictionary definitions for merl (1 of 2)

merle¹

merl

/ (mɜːl, Scottish mɛrl) /

noun

Scot another name for the (European) blackbird

Word Origin for merle

C15: via Old French from Latin merula

British Dictionary definitions for merl (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 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012