roan

roan¹ Definition

roan (rōn)

adjective

of a solid color, as reddish brown, brown, or black, with a thick sprinkling of white hairs: said chiefly of horses

Etymology: OFr < OSp roano < L ravidus, grayish < ravus, grayish-yellow, tawny

noun

roan² Definition

roan (rōn)

noun

a soft, flexible sheepskin used in bookbinding, often treated to look like morocco

Etymology: MScot, after ? Rouen

roan Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

antelope: Powerful sable and roan antelope roam the forests, while a growing elephant population is becoming more visible.
mare: Email July 2006 To Share 2/3 days a week for Sienna; a 15.1hh roan mare aged 11yrs.
gelding: This pure bred, gray roan, Arab gelding is owned and ridden by Miss Joanne Marsh and represented the South West of England.
horse: Only one roan horse has won the Champion Hurdle, Anzio in 1962.
cob: The roan cob had been brought up to the side door.

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