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lɪn noun
a small, bold falcon, Falco columbarius, of the Northern Hemisphere.
Also called pigeon hawk.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English merlioun, merlone < Anglo-French merilun, Old French esmerillon, diminutive of esmeril < Germanic; akin to German Schmerl, Old Norse smyrill
1350–1400; Middle English merlioun, merlone < Anglo-French merilun, Old French esmerillon, diminutive of esmeril < Germanic; akin to German Schmerl, Old Norse smyrill
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To merlin
00:10
Merlin
is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
merlin (ˈmɜːlɪn) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| See also pigeon hawk a small falcon, Falco columbarius, that has a dark plumage with a black-barred tail: used in falconry | |
| [C14: from Old French esmerillon, from esmeril, of Germanic origin] | |
| Merlin (ˈmɜːlɪn) | |
| —n | |
| (in Arthurian legend) a wizard and counsellor to King Arthur eternally imprisoned in a tree by a woman to whom he revealed his secret craft | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
merlin
"small, strong European falcon," early 14c., from Anglo-Fr. merilun, an aphetic form of O.Fr. esmerillon (Fr. émerillon), from Frank. *smiril (cf. O.H.G. smerlo, Ger. Schmerl "merlin"). Sp. esmerejon, It. smeriglio also are Germanic loan-words.
Merlin
sorcerer and soothsayer in Arthurian legends, from O.Fr. form of Welsh Myrddhin, probably from O.Celt. *Mori-dunon, lit. "of the sea-hill," from *mori "sea" + dunom "hill."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Cultural Dictionary
Merlin definition
In the legends of King Arthur, a magician who acts as Arthur's principal adviser.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
FOLDOC
Nearby Words
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