Re: merles
In case Dave Wilton doesn't delete this thread, we might as well have an excerpt from OED2's entry for "merle, n.:"a. F. merle masc. (OF. also fem.):L. merulus, merula blackbird or ousel (also, the...
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The original question (not answered by the above dictionary quote) was about "merle" in relation to the color/pattern of dog coats.Merle is a genetic variation that causes a color to be diluted yet...
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Also marl as in marbled, spotted streaked (SOED) - chiefly Scottish but also used to describe cloth, eg blue marl. Late ME and linked to OF marle, Late Latin margila, dim. of Latin marga, said by...
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Thanks to all of you. my first sight of the word was the plural. I did not recognize this which made it difficult to find.It is also related to "merlon" the solid part of a battlement which is...
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