Late 15th century; earliest use found in St. Ninian. From Middle French merdaille from merde + -aille<br>mid 19th century; earliest use found in William Spurdens (d. 1855). Probably from mardle, if the reverse is not the case<br>mid 19th century. Probably from French (obsolete) mardelle brim or border of a well, fountain, spring, etc., variant of margelle from a post-classical Latin derivative of classical Latin margin-, margō<br>mid 19th century; earliest use found in Notes and Queries. Origin uncertain; perhaps imitative. Compare -le.