† morineln.
Origin: A borrowing from Latin. Etymon: Latin morinellus.
Etymology: < post-classical Latin morinellus ( J. Caius De Rariorum Animalium et Stirpium Historia (1570) 21) < a first element for which Caius offers two different explanations (see note) + -ellus-ellus suffix. Compare French morinelle (1868 in Littré).Caius states that he gave this name to the bird for two reasons: because it is common in north-eastern France (apud Morinos , i.e. among the (classical Latin) Morinī , a Belgic tribe living in the Pas-de-Calais), and on account of its stupidity (ancient Greek μωρότης folly: see moron n.2). Its taxonomic validity is derived from its publication in the name Charadrius morinellus ( Linnaeus Systema Naturæ (ed. 10, 1758)). N.E.D. (1908) gives the pronunciation as (mǫ·rinel) /ˈmɒrɪnɛl/.
Obsolete.
rare. Apparently only attested in dictionaries or glossaries.
1828 N. Webster Morinel, a bird, called also dotteril.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2002; most recently modified version published online June 2021).