plural merles
1
: a coat color pattern of some dogs (such as the border collie, dachshund, and Great Dane) that consists of a typically bluish- or reddish-gray mixed with splotches of black or reddish-brown and that occurs as a result of the lightening or dilution of the normal base coat color so that only dark patches of normal melanin remain
The breed's colors are black or gray or blue merle with white points …—
Patricia Bennett Hoffman
Patricia Bennett HoffmanNote: Merle is produced by a semidominant gene and may be accompanied by usually blue eyes and defects in hearing and sight. Merle is considered a standard coat pattern by the American Kennel Club for several breeds of dog (such as the Shetland sheepdog).
2
: a dog displaying the coat color pattern of merle
Personally, I believe the present standard allows sable merles to be shown.—Marcia K. Keller
Marcia K. KellerBlue merles frequently have one or both eyes blue flecked or blue.—Suzanne Troy
Suzanne TroyExamples of merle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Though Ruka did everything in his power to keep me happy, his blue merle border collie brain had an affinity for rolling in anything dead, decaying, or otherwise putrid.
—The Editors, Outside, 26 Aug. 2025
The word Merlot is derived from the word merle, which translates from the original French to describe the common blackbird.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 20 June 2024
Biscuit is a Catahoula/Lab mix with beautiful chocolate merle coloring.
—Joy Jackson, Arkansas Online, 24 Sep. 2023
Zeus, who is gray and brown, was born to a merle sire and brindle dam and was the largest puppy in a litter of five.
—Tori B. Powell, CBS News, 7 May 2022
The test also identifies genes connected to coat patterns such as dark spotting, merle, white spotting, or saddle tan.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 21 Feb. 2022
Pomeranians can also be black, cream, blue, brown, black and white, brindle, merle, black and tan, and tricolor, to name just a few of the many colors and patterns that make up their palette.
—Kim Campbell Thornton Andrews McMeel, Star Tribune, 22 Jan. 2021
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Noun
Scar, a blue merle Australian shepherd, was trained by his owner to be a medical alert and light mobility service dog.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Though Ruka did everything in his power to keep me happy, his blue merle border collie brain had an affinity for rolling in anything dead, decaying, or otherwise putrid.
—The Editors, Outside, 26 Aug. 2025
The word Merlot is derived from the word merle, which translates from the original French to describe the common blackbird.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 20 June 2024
Biscuit is a Catahoula/Lab mix with beautiful chocolate merle coloring.
—Joy Jackson, Arkansas Online, 24 Sep. 2023
Zeus, who is gray and brown, was born to a merle sire and brindle dam and was the largest puppy in a litter of five.
—Tori B. Powell, CBS News, 7 May 2022
The test also identifies genes connected to coat patterns such as dark spotting, merle, white spotting, or saddle tan.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 21 Feb. 2022
Pomeranians can also be black, cream, blue, brown, black and white, brindle, merle, black and tan, and tricolor, to name just a few of the many colors and patterns that make up their palette.
—Kim Campbell Thornton Andrews McMeel, Star Tribune, 22 Jan. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Merle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/merle. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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