merlin

Meaning

A small falcon, Falco columbarius, that breeds in northern North America, Europe, and Asia.

Synonyms

pigeon hawk

Falco columbarius

pigeon hawk

kestrel

falcon

stonefalcon

Merlin

harrier

hawk

Translations

Merlin

esmerejón

Falco columbarius

smeriglio

émerillon

smelleken

faucon émerillon

esmerilhão

boz doğan

Merlin

esmerla

Zwergfalke

steenvalk

faucon kobez

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈmɝlɪn/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: merlioun

Cognate with Old High German: smirl

Cognate with Old Norse: smyrill

In summary

From Middle English merlioun, merlion, marlyon, merlyon, merlinge, from Old French emerillon, esmerillon, from Old Frankish *smiril (“falcon, hawk”), from Proto-Germanic *smirilaz (“falcon, merlin”). Cognate with Old High German smirl (“falcon”), Old Norse smyrill (“falcon”).