merlin

merlin · noun¹

1. Proto-Germanic · derived from*smirilaz“falcon, merlin”
2. Frankish · derived from*smiril“falcon, hawk”
3. Old French · derived fromemerillon
4. Middle English · inherited frommerlioun
5. English todaymerlin

From Middle English merlioun, merlion, marlyon, merlyon, merlinge, from Old French emerillon, esmerillon, from Old Frankish *smiril (“falcon, hawk”), from Proto-Germanic *smirilaz (“falcon, merlin”). Cognate with Old High German smirl (“falcon”), Old Norse smyrill (“falcon”).

merlin · noun²

Acronym of moesin-ezrin-radixin-like protein + -in (“protein”)

Merlin · proper noun³

1. Proto-Celtic · derived from*mori“sea”
2. Proto-Brythonic · derived from*Mor-ðin
3. Old French · derived fromMerlin
4. Medieval Latin · derived fromMerlinus
5. Middle English · inherited fromMerlyn
6. English todayMerlin

From Middle English Merlyn, from Medieval Latin Merlinus and Old French Merlin, from Proto-Brythonic *Mor-ðin (literally “sea-hill”), from Proto-Celtic *mori (“sea”) + *dūnom (“stronghold, rampart”).

Words from the same roots