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

"Like, pink comes from other breeds. Chocolate comes from other breeds, merle comes from other breeds. You can turn them pink."

From BBC

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

From Fox News

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

From BBC

The popularity of dogs with “merle” coats — a genetic quirk that results in a dappled appearance that looks particularly fetching in photos — seems to have soared in recent years.

From Seattle Times

When two dogs with the merle gene, which is what makes coats whiter, are bred together, their puppy has a 25 percent chance of being born a double merle.

From Washington Post