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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

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

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

Opal, like many other dogs born with what’s called double merle genes, is able to use her other senses, such as smell and touch, to make up for what she can’t see or hear.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 30, 2019

“My certy! but ’twas pretty to see yon merle, though!” he murmured, having restored the kettle to sanity.

From Pemrose Lorry, Camp Fire Girl by Isabel Katherine Hornibrook

His dad would play Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard and John Conlee on the car stereo.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 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

“We have DJs who play everything from Dwight Yoakam to Bruce Springsteen and Merle Haggard to Chappell Roan,” said Chase Manhattan, regional director of entertainment at Desert 5 Spot.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 23, 2025

England's super-subs made a big impact at Euro 2022 - Kelly scored the winner in the final against Germany, after Ella Toone had lobbed goalkeeper Merle Frohms in the same match.

From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2025

To Merle Tuve he had lamented an “epidemic of trouble, connected with raising the power output.”

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik