merle1
or merl
[murl]
- the blackbird, Turdus merula.
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Origin of merle1
1350–1400; Middle English merule < Middle French < Latin merulus, merula ousel, blackbird
merle2
[murl]
- a bluish gray color mottled with black.
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- being the color merle.
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Origin of merle2
First recorded in 1900–05; origin uncertain
Merle
[murl]
- a male or female given name.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for merle
Contemporary Examples
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
But suddenly, when they were still some way from the town, Merle stopped and pointed.
The Great HungerJohan Bojer
Merle was in the pantry, with a big apron on, ranging jars of preserves on the shelves.
The Great HungerJohan Bojer
Actually remembered my existence, after all, did you, Merle?
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
merle1
merl
- Scot another name for the (European) blackbird
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Word Origin
C15: via Old French from Latin merula
merle2
- (of a dog, esp a collie) having a bluish-grey coat with speckles or streaks of blackOften called: blue merle
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Word Origin
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
Word Origin and History for merle
n.
"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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper