ˈmərlə̇n noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English meriloun, from Anglo-French merilun, from Old French esmerillon, aug. of esmeril, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch smerle, smeerle merlin, Old High German smerlo, smiril, Old Norse smyrill
1. : a small European falcon ( Falco aesalon ) related to the American pigeon hawk
2. : pigeon hawk a