Definition of MERLE

merle

Plural: merles

Noun

  • A European blackbird, known for its melodious song.
  • common black European thrush
  • The Eurasian blackbird, Turdus merula.
  • Any blackbird.
  • A type of mottled coloration on dogs.
  • A dog having this coloration.

Examples

  • Playing MERLE opened up a triple word score, singing a happy tune.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English merle, from Old French merle (French merle), from Latin merula (“blackbird”) (whence the directly borrowed Middle English merule, and compare the taxonomic name Turdus merula), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂mes- (“black, blackbird”). Compare Breton moualch (“ouzel”), Welsh mwyalch (“blackbird, thrush”). Distantly related to the synonymous ouzel.

Synonyms

blackbird, European blackbird, merl, ousel, ouzel, Turdus merula

Scrabble Score: 7

merle: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
merle: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
merle: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 9

merle: valid Words With Friends Word