Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Moor?

\Moor\, n. [F. More, Maure, L. Maurus a Moor, a Mauritanian, an inhabitant of Mauritania, Gr. ?; cf. ? black, dark. Cf. {Morris} a dance, {Morocco}.] 1. One of a mixed race inhabiting Morocco, Algeria, Tunis, and Tripoli, chiefly along the coast and in towns. 2. (Hist.) Any individual of the swarthy races of Africa or Asia which have adopted the Mohammedan religion. ``In Spanish history the terms Moors, Saracens, and Arabs are synonymous.'' --Internat. Cyc.
\Moor\, n. [OE. mor, AS. m[=o]r moor, morass; akin to D. moer moor, G. moor, and prob. to Goth. marei sea, E. mere. See {Mere} a lake.] 1. An extensive waste covered with patches of heath, and having a poor, light soil, but sometimes marshy, and abounding in peat; a heath. In her girlish age she kept sheep on the moor. --Carew. 2. A game preserve consisting of moorland. {Moor buzzard} (Zo["o]l.), the marsh harrier. [Prov. Eng.] {Moor coal} (Geol.), a friable variety of lignite. {Moor cock} (Zo["o]l.), the male of the moor fowl or red grouse of Europe. {Moor coot}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Gallinule}. {Moor fowl}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The European ptarmigan, or red grouse ({Lagopus Scoticus}). (b) The European heath grouse. See under {Heath}. {Moor game}. (Zo["o]l.) Same as {Moor fowl} (above). {Moor grass} (Bot.), a tufted perennial grass ({Sesleria c[ae]rulea}), found in mountain pastures of Europe. {Moor hawk} (Zo["o]l.), the marsh harrier. {Moor hen}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The female of the moor fowl. (b) A gallinule, esp. the European species. See {Gallinule}. (c) An Australian rail ({Tribonyx ventralis}). {Moor monkey} (Zo["o]l.), the black macaque of Borneo ({Macacus maurus}). {Moor titling} (Zo["o]l.), the European stonechat ({Pratinocola rubicola}).
\Moor\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Moored}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Mooring}.] [Prob. fr. D. marren to tie, fasten, or moor a ship. See {Mar}.] 1. (Naut.) To fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains; as, the vessel was moored in the stream; they moored the boat to the wharf. 2. Fig.: To secure, or fix firmly. --Brougham.
\Moor\, v. i. To cast anchor; to become fast. On oozy ground his galleys moor. --Dryden.