merlette

English

Etymology

A merlette in French heraldry

From Late Middle English [Term?], from Anglo-Norman merlet (from merle (blackbird) + -et (suffix forming a noun)), or from Middle French merlette (female blackbird; merlette (heraldic charge)) (from merle (blackbird) + -ette (diminutive suffix forming a feminine noun).[1] Merle is from Latin merula (blackbird), from Proto-Indo-European *ams- (black; blackbird).

Pronunciation

Noun

merlette (plural merlettes)

  1. (heraldry) In French heraldry, a depiction of a mythological bird without beak or feet.

See also

References

Further reading


French

Etymology

From merle + -ette

Noun

merlette f (plural merlettes)

  1. Female blackbird.
  2. (heraldry) The merlette.

Further reading

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