merle
pronunciation
How to pronounce merle in British English:
UK [mɜːl]
How to pronounce merle in American English:
US
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- Noun:
- common black European thrush
Word Origin
- merle (n.)
- "blackbird," late 15c., from Old French merle "blackbird" (12c.), from Latin merulus "blackbird," from PIE *ams- "black, blackbird" (source also of 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.
Example
- 1. Congenital deafness can be genetic , seen sometimes in dogs with merle or white coats , or caused by in utero damage from infections or toxins .
- 2. In all the books I have read on Border Collie history , I have never seen a reference to a merle as a herding champion either in Britain or in the USA.