noun
merlin
MLIHN
noun
1
A small, fast falcon found across northern parts of Europe, Asia, and North America.
"A merlin darted low over the moorland chasing a flock of pipits."
How to Use Merlin
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small, quick falcon; also a well-known name from Arthurian legend.
Common mistake
Don't assume the bird's name and the wizard's name share a root — they come from entirely different origins.
Word Forms
merlins plural, Merlins plural
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A _____ darted low over the moorland chasing a flock of pipits.
Etymology
From Old French emerillon, "small falcon," from a Germanic root meaning the same thing — unrelated to the Arthurian wizard Merlin, which comes from a Welsh name.