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merlion

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merlion¹

  • /ˈmɜːˌlaɪən/ UK
  • /ˈmɚˌlaɪən/ US
  • /ˌmɜːˈlaɪən/ Singapore
  • /mə-/ Singapore

Where it comes from

From mer- + lion; sense 1 promoted by the Singapore Tourism Board as the name of a statue installed at the mouth of the Singapore River on 15 September 1972.

noun merlions · Merlion

  1. Singapore Often Merlion: a symbolic creature having the head of a lion and the body of a fish, which is a national symbol of Singapore; an image, statue, or other depiction of this creature. In 1995, a second Merlion was built on the island of Sentosa. This new Merlion is actually a 37-metre high panoramic tower, from which it is possible to view mainland Singapore and the Straits of Singapore[…]. A new "ancient legend" was created for this creature with this tower. The legend alleged t
  2. A fictional creature of similar make-up. There were night penguins that emitted green light only when hunting in dark seas, and merlions whose manes were fringed with pallid lavender.

merlion²

  • /ˈməːlɪ.ən/ UK
  • /ˈmɚˌlɪ.ən/ US

Where it comes from

Probably a variant of merlin, from Middle English merlioun, merlinge, marlyon, merlion, merlone, merlyon, from Old French emerillon, esmerillon, from Frankish *smiril (“falcon, hawk”), from Proto-Germanic *smirilaz (“falcon, merlin”).

noun merlions

  1. A depiction of a bird similar to a house martin or swallow with stylized feet; a martlet. He beareth two coats quarterly, with an Inſcocheon of pretence, viz. The firſt, per bend nebulee, Or and Sable, a Lion Rampant counterchained, by the name of Sympſon; The ſecond, Argent, a Feſſe, Gules, between three Merlions, or Sparhawks, Sable, beaks and legs, Or, by the name of Oneſlow; […]
  2. alternative, rare Alternative form of merlin (“a small falcon, Falco columbarius”). The gentle falcon, that with its feet distraineth / The kingës hand; the hardy sperhawke eke, / The quailës foe; the merlion that paineth / Himself full oft the larkë for to seek; […]

Merlion³

proper noun

  1. Alternative letter-case form of merlion (“imaginary creature that is a national symbol of Singapore”). In 1995, a second Merlion was built on the island of Sentosa. This new Merlion is actually a 37-metre high panoramic tower, from which it is possible to view mainland Singapore and the Straits of Singapore[…]. A new "ancient legend" was created for this creature with this tower. The legend alleged t

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MLA

"merlion." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/merlion. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

merlion. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/merlion

Chicago

"merlion." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/merlion.

BibTeX
@misc{merlion_2026,
  title = {merlion},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/merlion},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}