different between mermin vs merlin

English

Etymology

From Middle English mereminne, from Old English meremennen, meremenin (“siren”), equivalent to mer- +? man. Cognate with Middle Dutch merminne, Middle Low German merminne, Middle High German mereminne, merminne (“mermaid”). More at merman.

Noun

mermin (plural mermins)

1. (obsolete) A mermaid or merman.

Related terms

• merfolk

Anagrams

• Nimmer, nimmer

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?m?l?n/
• Rhymes: -??(?)l?n

Etymology 1

From Middle English merlone, 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”).

Alternative forms

• marlin, marlion, marlyon, merline, merlion, merlon

Noun

merlin (plural merlins)

1. A small falcon, Falco columbarius, that breeds in northern North America, Europe, and Asia.

   Synonym: pigeon hawk

Translations

Etymology 2

Acronym of moesin-Ezrin-Radixin-like protein +? -in (“protein”)

Noun

merlin (uncountable)

1. (biochemistry) A cytoskeletal protein active in the suppression of tumors.

   Synonym: schwannomin

   Hypernym: protein

Related terms

• moesin
• ezrin
• radixin

Anagrams

• Milner, limner

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /m??.l??/

Noun

merlin m (plural merlins)

1. splitting maul: an axe with a long handle, the blade of which is coupled with a broad side that can be used as a sledgehammer.

Further reading

• “merlin” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).