Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
MERL, n. Also merle. The blackbird, Turdus merula (Dmf. 1910 H. S. Gladstone Birds Dmf. 5; ‡Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., Uls. 1953 Traynor). Only liter.Sc. 1725 Ramsay Gentle Shep. ii. iv.:
Thy Words excel the maist delightfu' Notes, That warble through the Merl or Mavis' Throats.Ayr. 1790 Burns Lament of Mary ii.:
The merle, in his noontide bow'r, Makes woodland echoes ring.Slk. 1813 Hogg Queen's Wake 181:
And the merl and the maives forehooit their yung.Sc. 1896 A. Cheviot Proverbs 339:
The merle and the blackbird, the laverock and the lark, The goudy and the gowdspink, How many birds be that?Sc. 1920 A. Gray Songs from Heine 79:
And I bless the mavis and the merle That sing in the caller air.ne.Sc. 1929 M. W. Simpson Day's End 21:
Or the sunshine glint thro' the saft hill rain, An' the merle an' the mavis sing.Abd. 1998 Sheena Blackhall The Bonsai Grower 69:
The lee-lang day, a squalloch o spurgies, a yammer o yities, a caain o corbies an a craikin o capercailzie chimed in wi a cheepin o mavis, merle and blackie tae gledden the braes wi music.
