moorit
/ˈmuːrət/Scottish (chiefly Orkney and Shetland )
adjective
Of Shetland sheep or their wool: of a mid-brown colour, between fawn and dark brown. Of a garment, etc.: made of moorit wool.
- Moorit is one of the natural colours of Shetland sheep and wool. The definition ‘reddish brown’ found in some sources seems to be influenced by the etymology and is not reflected in Shetland usage..
noun
1A mid-brown colour.
2Moorit wool. Also (rare ): a moorit sheep.
Origin
Late 18th century; earliest use found in John Sinclair (1754–1835), agricultural improver, politician, and codifier of ‘useful knowledge’. From the unattested Norn reflex of the early Scandinavian word represented by Old Icelandic mórauðr, Norwegian regional moraud, Danish regional murret, all in sense ‘yellowish brown’ from the Scandinavian base of Old Icelandic mór + the Scandinavian base of Old Icelandic rauðr.