noun
merle
murl
noun
1
The Eurasian blackbird, or loosely, any blackbird.
"A merle sang from the hedge every morning at dawn."
2
A mottled, marbled coat pattern seen in some dog breeds, such as collies and dachshunds.
"The puppy had a striking blue merle coat."
How to Use Merle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the blackbird, or a mottled coat pattern in dogs.
Common pairings
blue merle
merle coat pattern
Word Forms
merles plural, merles plural
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Etymology
From Old French merle, from Latin merula, "blackbird."