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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

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

Oh, lark, be day's apostle To mavis, merle and throstle, Bid them their betters jostle From day and its delights!

From How to Add Ten Years to your Life and to Double Its Satisfactions by Curry, S. S. (Samuel Silas)

Proto-Town founders Josh Farahzad, 26, and Merle Nye, 28, met while attending college at Duke.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026

One of her regular students, Merle Goorian, was the wife of a public television producer, Len Goorian, and pitched him the idea for a show.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 8, 2026

Merle at Autovol agreed that the surety bond proposal would likely benefit newer manufacturers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 3, 2026

I was 23 or so, but I was picturing a much older person than myself — maybe Merle Haggard when he gets older.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 3, 2025

From Merle Tuve at the Carnegie Institution came a sharply worded warning to his boyhood friend “Ernie” about his tendency to jump to unwarranted conclusions before all the facts were in.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik