martlet

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English

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A martlet as depicted in English heraldry, here with tincture sable

Etymology

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From Middle English martilet, probably a blend of martinet (“martin”; from Middle French martinet and Medieval Latin martineta[1]) and Middle French merlet.[2]

Noun

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martlet (plural martlets)

  1. (obsolete) A bird, the martin.
    • 1862, William Tiler, The Natural History of Birds, Beasts, Fishes, Serpents, Insects, &c:
      “As in a drought the thirsty creatures cry,
      And gape upon the gather'd clouds for rain;
      Then, first, the Martlet meets it in the sky,
      And, with wet wings, joys all the feather'd train.”
  2. (heraldry) A depiction of a bird similar to a house martin or swallow with stylized feet.

Synonyms

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Translations

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ “martinet, n.(1)”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
  2. ^ “martlet, n.2”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.

Further reading

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Anagrams

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