French bishop who is a patron saint of France (died in 397)
"The cathedral was dedicated to Saint Martin, the fourth-century bishop revered as the patron saint of France."
United States actor and comedian (born in 1945)
"After watching Martin perform his classic sketches on SNL, I realized why he became such a beloved figure in American comedy."
United States actress (1913-1990)
"The cast of the 1972 film reunited to honor Joan Martin, a talented United States actress who passed away in 1990."
United States singer (1917-1995)
"The radio station played Martin's greatest hits to celebrate his legacy as a legendary soul singer."
any of various swallows with squarish or slightly forked tail and long pointed wings; migrate around Martinmas
"The garden was filled with martins dipping gracefully over the water before they migrated south for winter."
Any of various passerine birds of the family Hirundinidae, which also includes swallows, that catch insects whilst flying.
"The old miller adjusted the broken martin to ensure it ground the grain smoothly without clogging."
A perforated stone-faced runner for grinding.
In plain English: A martin is a type of small bird that looks like a swallow and builds its nest under eaves or in attics.
"The small brown bird flew across the garden to find a worm for its nest."
Usage: In everyday usage, martin refers to a male swallow or any member of the Hirundinidae family, not a grinding tool. Use this word when describing these migratory birds known for building mud nests under eaves.
A male given name from Latin originally given in honor of a fourth century soldier-saint.
"When my grandfather introduced me to his friend Martin, I realized we shared the same rare first name that honors an ancient saint."
The word entered English from Middle French, where it originally referred to a type of swift or swallow known as the martin. It was borrowed into English during the medieval period to name this specific bird found in Europe and North America.