merle

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/mɜːl/, /mɛrl/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(mûrl)


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
merle1  (mûrl),USA pronunciation n. [Chiefly Scot.]
  1. Scottish Terms, Birdsthe blackbird, Turdus merula.
Also, merl. 
  • Latin merulus, merula ousel, blackbird
  • Middle French
  • Middle English merule 1350–1400

merle2  (mûrl),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. a bluish gray color mottled with black.

adj. 
  1. being the color merle.
  • origin, originally uncertain 1900–05

Merle  (mûrl),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. a male or female given name.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
merle, merl / mɜːl mɛrl/

  1. another name for the (European) blackbird
Etymology: 15th Century: via Old French from Latin merula
'merle' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Merlot - Meryl - Old English sheepdog - coulter - ouzel

Forum discussions with the word(s) "merle" in the title:


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