Examples of merlin in a Sentence
BostonGlobe.com, 5 Aug. 2023
An American white pelican at Big Pond in Otis, two merlins in Dalton, a least bittern in the marsh off Town Beach Road in Richmond, and single hooded warblers at the Hopkins Memorial Forest and the Dry Hill reservation in New Marlborough.
—Isabela Rocha, BostonGlobe.com, 1 July 2023
Researchers from Michigan State University and the University of Minnesota have developed population models to show how controlling merlin and other nest predator populations could reduce the piping plover's risk of extinction, according to the Smithsonian.
—Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 21 Apr. 2023
Berkshire County: a least bittern in Pittsfield on Town Beach Road, a merlin in Great Barrington, nine red crossbills in Williamstown, and two Acadian flycatchers in South Egremont.
—BostonGlobe.com, 30 July 2022
Birds at Race Point in Provincetown included 2 black vultures, 2 Pacific loons, 130 red-throated loons, a Manx shearwater, 11 common murres, 62 razorbills, 9 Iceland gulls, and a merlin.
—BostonGlobe.com, 20 Apr. 2022
The region continued to host a summer tanager at a feeder at 73 Hadley Road in Sunderland, two black vultures in Greenfield, two Iceland gulls at Turners Falls, and a merlin in Orange.
—BostonGlobe.com, 29 Jan. 2022
At Plum Island, a merlin was noted along with an early dunlin and black guillemots; single black guillemots were also seen at Andrews Point in Rockport and in Gloucester Harbor.
—BostonGlobe.com, 31 July 2021
One has seen hummingbirds attempting to drive off migrating bald eagles at Hawk Ridge in Duluth in the fall and has photos of a hummingbird attacking a perched merlin.
—Val Cunningham Contributing Writer, Star Tribune, 3 Nov. 2020
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'merlin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Noun (1)
Middle English merlioun, from Anglo-French merilun, alteration of esmerilun, diminutive of Old French esmeril, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German smiril merlin
Noun (2)
Medieval Latin Merlinus, from Middle Welsh Myrddin
Noun (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
13th century, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near merlin
Cite this Entry
“Merlin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/merlin. Accessed 24 Sep. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on merlin
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about merlin
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