▪ I. murre
(mɜː(r))
Also 8 merre, 8–9 murr, 9 mur, muir.
[Of obscure origin: cf. marrot.
Fleming (Brit. Anim., 1828, p. 134), and later writers, give a form murse, probably due to a misprint or misreading.]
A name applied to a. several species of guillemot, esp. of the genus Uria; b. the razor-bill, Alca torda. Also attrib.
| 1602 G. Archer in Purchas Pilgrims iv. 1647 Pettrels, Cootes, Hagbuts, Pengwins, Murres, Gannets, Cormorants, Guls, [etc.]. 1662 Ray Three Itin. iii. 187 We saw..some of the young murres, a bird, black on the head and back, white under the breast and belly, and hath a sharp and black bill. 1681 Grew Musæum i. iv. iii. 72 The Auk, Rasor-Bill, or Murre. 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), Murrbird, a kind of Bird. 1778 Eng. Gazetteer (ed. 2) s.v. Pembrokeshire, The razor-bill is the merre of Cornwall. 1845 Whittier Fishermen iii, And the noisy murr are flying, Like black scuds, overhead. 1876 Goode Anim. Resources U.S. 11 Loons, grebes, auks, puffins, guillemot, murres. |
▪ II. murre
var. murr; obs. f. murrey, myrrh.