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• merle
  merle

  noun

  the blackbird, Turdus merula.
• Merle
  Merle

  noun

  a male or female given name.

merle

¹ American  

[murl] / mɜrl /

Or merl

noun

Chiefly Scot.

1. the blackbird, Turdus merula.

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merle ² American  

[murl] / mɜrl /

noun

1. a bluish gray color mottled with black.

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adjective

1. being the color merle.

Merle ³ American  

[murl] / mɜrl /

noun

1. a male or female given name.

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merle ¹ British  

/ mɛrl, mɜːl /

noun

1. another name for the (European) blackbird

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merle ² British  

/ mɜːl /

adjective

1. Often called: blue merle. (of a dog, esp a collie) having a bluish-grey coat with speckles or streaks of black

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Etymology

Origin of merle¹

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

Origin of merle²

First recorded in 1900–05; origin uncertain

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

merle Merle

Hemming has managed to breed a "merle" pattern into him, which animal experts say is a genetic defect that is linked to blindness and deafness in dogs.

From BBC ● Jan. 23, 2023

Mudis are also defined by its unique merle markings and "loyal" demeanor.

From Fox News ● Jan. 4, 2022

The female, two-month-old American XL bulldog is described as having blue merle colouring.

From BBC ● Dec. 1, 2021

While most professional breeders know not to breed dogs that may produce a double merle dog, inexperienced breeders may not, Fuller said.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 30, 2019

A sort of hybrid canary whistles and chirps in the early mornings, and I hear the shrill wild note of a merle every now and then.

From Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, Volume 22. October, 1878. by Various

"Our question wasn't whether the science is good," said co-author Patrick Merle, professor and director of the School of Communication.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 20, 2026

Merle Haggard’s iconoclastic “Okie From Muskogee” is considered a country classic, even though the sentiment is about as far from mainstream American thought in 2026 as can be imagined.

From Salon ● Aug. 6, 2026

She cross-references the many striking photos taken during the late September publicity shoot commissioned by the project’s director of public relations, Merle Crowell.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026

A bonded project is one that “puts the developers and the lenders at ease,” said Michael Merle, business development director at Autovol, an Idaho-based housing factory.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 3, 2026

Its source was Merle Tuve, whom Lawrence had visited in Washington on his way home from Europe.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

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