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martlet

martlet


mart·let    Audio Help   (märt'lĭt)   

n.  

  1. See house martin.

  2. Heraldry A representation of a bird without feet, used as a crest or bearing to indicate a fourth son.


[French martelet, from Martin, Saint Martin of Tours.]
house martin  
n.   An Old World bird (Delichon urbica) having blue-black plumage, white rump and underparts, and a forked tail. Also called martlet.
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
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