Other forms: martins
A martin is a small bird that builds a mud nest under the eaves. House martins, a sand martin, martins under the roof.
The house martin builds its nest from a thousand or more beakfuls of mud, and the nests are protected, so knocking one down is an offence. Martins are relatives of swallows and are told apart by the white rump.
1nounmartinA small bird that builds a mud nest under the eaves.
“Every spring, the martins return to build their mud nests under our roof.”
martin is a bird.
Middle French martin names the bird, perhaps from the personal name.
Middle French
martin
English, today
martin
From Middle French martin (French martinet).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA
Practised in Birds