A martlet is a tiny swallow, also known as a house martin, who prefers to build its nest on a house or, as Duncan states, a church (temple). Note the great irony in Duncan's speech.
How to cite this article:
Mabillard, Amanda. Macbeth Glossary. Shakespeare Online. 20 Aug. 2000. (date when you accessed the information) < http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/macbeth/macbethglossary/macbeth1_1/macbethglos_martlet.html >.
