merlette en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /məːˈlɛt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /mɚˈlɛt/ (General-American)
Etymology
From Late Middle English [Term?], from Anglo-Norman merlet (from merle (“blackbird”) + -et (“suffix forming a noun”)), or from Middle French merlette (“little blackbird; merlette (heraldic charge)”) (from merle (“blackbird”)—formerly a feminine noun) + -ette (“diminutive suffix for a feminine noun”). Merle is from Latin merula (“blackbird”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ems- (“black; blackbird”).
Meanings
- In French heraldry, a depiction of a mythological bird without beak or feet.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| merlettes | Number=Plur | lexicographic |