(Arthurian legend) the magician who acted as King Arthur's advisor
"In the tales of Camelot, Merlin served as the wise and powerful magician to King Arthur."
small falcon of Europe and America having dark plumage with black-barred tail; used in falconry
"The hunter released a merlin to hunt over the open fields, relying on its dark plumage and barred tail."
A small falcon, Falco columbarius, that breeds in northern North America, Europe, and Asia.
"Researchers are investigating how the merlin protein helps prevent cancer by suppressing tumor growth."
A cytoskeletal protein active in the suppression of tumors.
In plain English: A merlin is a small, fast bird of prey that hunts other birds and rodents by flying high above them before swooping down to catch their food.
"The magician in our school play dressed up like Merlin to perform his tricks."
A wizard in the Arthurian legend.
"Merlin used his magic to help King Arthur pull Excalibur from the stone."
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").