maroon

views updated May 14 2018

ma·roon¹ / məˈroōn/ • adj. of a brownish-crimson color.• n. a brownish-crimson color.ma·roon² • v. [tr.] (often be marooned) leave (someone) trapped and isolated in an inaccessible place, esp. an island: a novel about schoolboys marooned on a desert island.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

Maroon

views updated Jun 27 2018

Ma·roon / məˈroōn/ • n. a member of a group of black people living in the mountains and forests of Suriname and the West Indies, descended from escaped slaves.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

maroon

views updated May 11 2018

maroon2 negro of Surinam and W. Indies XVII; (in full maroon party), pleasure party, picnic XVIII. — F. marron, † maron — Sp. cimarron wild, untamed, runaway slave, f. cimarra furred coat; see -OON.
Hence vb. † pass. and intr. be lost in the wilds XVII, put ashore on a desolate coast XVIII.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

Maroon

views updated May 23 2018

Maroon a member of a group of black people living in the mountains and forests of Suriname and the West Indies, descended from runaway slaves. The name comes (in the mid 17th century) from French marron meaning ‘feral’, from Spanish cimarrón ‘wild’, (as a noun) ‘runaway slave’.

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ELIZABETH KNOWLES

maroon

views updated May 18 2018

maroon1 † sweet chestnut of S. Europe XVI; brownish crimson (as of the nutshell); firework XVIII. — F. marron — It. marrone — medGr. máraon.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD