An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Amsel

by Friedrich Kluge

Amsel, f., ‘blackbird,’ from the equiv. MidHG. amsel, OHG. amsala, f. It corresponds to AS. ôsle (ôs- from ams-), E. ousel; the equiv. Lat. mĕrula (Fr. merle), whence Du. meerle and E. merl are borrowed, may represent *mĕsula, and have been orig. cognate with Amsel. Its relation to Ammer and to Goth. ams, ‘shoulder,’ is uncertain.