merle

Meanings

1. The Eurasian blackbird, Turdus merula.
2. Any blackbird.

1. A type of mottled coloration on dogs.
2. A dog having this coloration.

1. A surname from French of French origin.
2. A male given name transferred from the surname.

1. A female given name from English.

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.