MERLIN

[mer.lin] n [ME merlioun, fr. AF merilun, fr. OF esmerillon, aug. of esmeril, of Gmc origin; akin to OHG smiril merlin] (14c): a small compact Holarctic falcon (Falco columbarius) which has a broad dark terminal band on the tail and of which the upperparts are slate blue in males and dark brown in females--compare pigeon hawk 1 Mer.lin n [ML Merlinus, fr. MW Myrddin]: a prophet and magician in Arthurian legend