Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A small falcon (Falco columbarius) of northern regions, having predominantly dark plumage and a black-striped tail.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A kind of hawk; a falcon of small size, belonging to the genus Falco, and to that section of the genus called
Æsalon or Hypotriorchis. - noun A hardy, active pony, somewhat larger than the Shetland, found in Wales.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun (Zoöl.) A small European falcon (
Falco columbarius , syn.Falco lithofalco , orFalco æsalon ). In North America called alsopigeon hawk .
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A small
falcon ,Falco columbarius , that breeds in northern NorthAmerica ,Europe andAsia .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun small falcon of Europe and America having dark plumage with black-barred tail; used in falconry
- noun (Arthurian legend) the magician who acted as King Arthur's advisor
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
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Examples
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The merlin was a type of falcon well adapted to a lady's purpose, and hawking parties were common among the Norman-English families of the neighborhood -- often including dames and demoiselles who flew their own falcons.
Masters of the Guild L. Lamprey 1910
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She, who never cared for any table of precedence in her life, even where the higher animals were concerned, would only undertake to remember that the merlin was a lady's hawk, and this only upon condition, that she should have one to sit upon her wrist like the fair ladies in Wouvermans 'pictures.
Tales and Novels — Volume 10 Maria Edgeworth 1808
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"Why," said Alleyne, "a merlin is a bird of the same form as an eagle or a falcon.
The White Company Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir, 1859-1930 1902
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"Why," said Alleyne, "a merlin is a bird of the same form as an eagle or a falcon.
The White Company Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir, 1859-1930 1902
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"Why," said Alleyne, "a merlin is a bird of the same form as an eagle or
The White Company Arthur Conan Doyle 1894
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"Why," said Alleyne, "a merlin is a bird of the same form as an eagle or a falcon.
The White Company 1890
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Just a question … on August 13, 2009 at 1: 19 pm merlin
Islam? Yes. Gay? Yes. British? No, Oh, OK then. « POLICE INSPECTOR BLOG Inspector Gadget 2009
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In the five years since we came here, I have recorded eight species of raptor flying over the garden, including hobby, peregrine, merlin, osprey and marsh harrier.
Birdwatch: Kestrel 2011
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Posted on May 08, 2010 under SF News | No Comment merlin, emma, north&south, dr who emma (2009. mostly romola garai), merlin (both S1 and S2), north&south, doctor who.
Planet-x.com.au » takenote_icons: merlin, emma, north&south, dr who 2010
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I may soon delete the blog from my favorites. on August 13, 2009 at 1: 17 pm merlin
Islam? Yes. Gay? Yes. British? No, Oh, OK then. « POLICE INSPECTOR BLOG Inspector Gadget 2009
chained_bear commented on the word merlin
"a hand-spike." (or handspike. Citation in Historical Military Terms list description)
October 9, 2008
bilby commented on the word merlin
Words that are found in similar contexts:
zither
shoveller
grayhound
schoolwork
quacking
foot-page
January 8, 2013