roan
nounEtymology From Middle French roan, probably from Spanish roano, from Old Spanish raudano, itself probably of Germanic origin (compare Gothic *𐍂𐌰𐌿𐌳𐌰𐌽 (*raudan), accusative of 𐍂𐌰𐌿𐌸𐍃 (rauþs, “red”). Compare rowan.
1
An animal (such as a horse) that has a coat of a dark base color with individual white hairs mixed in.
2
The color of such an animal.
3
A kind of leather used for slippers, bookbinding, etc., made from sheepskin, tanned with sumac and colored to imitate ungrained morocco.
- Roan, a kind of leather used for shoes, slippers, and common bookbinding; prepared from sheep skins by tanning with sumach.1882, Leo de Colange, The American Encyclopaedia of Commerce, Manufactures, Commercial Law, and Finance, volume 2:
- Derived terms
- roan antelope, roaning, strawberry roan