Meaning
blackbird, battlement
- a common Eurasian thrush; the male has black feathers and a yellow beak
- a merlon or battlement on the top of castle walls
In a sentence
Un merlo dal becco giallo canta sul ramo dell'albero.
A blackbird with a yellow beak is singing on the tree branch.
Le rondini e i merli popolano spesso i nostri giardini.
Swallows and blackbirds often inhabit our gardens.
Dall'alto della torre si potevano ammirare i merli medievali.
From the top of the tower, one could admire the medieval battlements.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| merlo | masculine · singular |
| merli | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- The feminine 'merla' exists for the female bird, famous in the Italian idiom 'i giorni della merla' (the coldest days of winter).
- In architecture, 'merlo' refers to the teeth-like structures on battlements.