merlo

blackbird

noun MER-loh Rare

Origin: From Latin 'merula', the common blackbird — inherited through Vulgar Latin.

Also means

merlon (battlement)

Usage Note

Merlo primarily means the common blackbird (Turdus merula), a bird famous in Italy for its melodious song. It also refers to the decorative battlements atop medieval towers — i merli of a castle wall. Colloquially, merlo is a mild insult meaning a naive or gullible person, equivalent to calling someone a 'sucker'.

Examples

"Un merlo canta sul ramo ogni mattina."

Natural Translation

A blackbird sings on the branch every morning.

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