merle
1or merl
- the blackbird, Turdus merula.
Origin of merle
1merle
2- a bluish gray color mottled with black.
- being the color merle.
Origin of merle
2Merle
- a male or female given name.
Examples from the Web for merle
Contemporary Examples of merle
The stars kept coming: Bing Crosby, Gary Cooper, Merle Oberon.
Ultimately, that included Andrea, Milton, Merle, and all but one of the adult, able-bodied residents of Woodbury.
And, perhaps most heartbreakingly, Merle died trying to take out the Governor on his own.
I realize now that this story was a major influence on the Merle Zane character in the Niceville series.
You hear it in Hank Williams Sr., Merle Haggard, early Dolly Parton, and you hear it in George Jones.
Historical Examples of merle
"My name is Merle Uthoug," said the dark one, with a curtsy.
The Great HungerJohan Bojer
Merle sang and yodelled as they went; then Peer sang, and then they all three sang together.
The Great HungerJohan Bojer
Until at last Merle rose and said: "Now, mother, it's time you went to bed."
The Great HungerJohan Bojer
One day he was sitting in the hotel, reading, when Merle came in.
The Great HungerJohan Bojer
Actually remembered my existence, after all, did you, Merle?
The Great HungerJohan Bojer
merle
1merl
- Scot another name for the (European) blackbird
Word Origin for merle
merle
2- (of a dog, esp a collie) having a bluish-grey coat with speckles or streaks of blackOften called: blue merle
Word Origin for merle
Word Origin and History for merle
"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.