noun
- A blackbird, especially the European blackbird (Turdus merula), known for its black plumage and melodious song.
Usage: chiefly British; literary or archaic in modern usage
Examples
- The merle sang beautifully from the garden fence at dawn.
- In medieval poetry, the merle was a symbol of love and courtship.
- We heard a merle's distinctive flute-like call in the woods.
- The black merle is common throughout Europe and Asia.