maroon

maroon

maroon¹ [mə ro͞on′]

n., adj.

[Fr marron, chestnut, chestnut color < It marrone]

dark brownish red

maroon² [mə ro͞on′]

n.

[Fr marron < AmSp cimarrón, wild, unruly < OSp cimarra, thicket]

1. [sometimes M-] in the West Indies and Suriname,

a) Historical a fugitive black slave

b) a descendant of such slaves

2. Rare a marooned person

vt.

1. to put (a person) ashore in some desolate place, as a desert island, and abandon that person there, as pirates or mutineers sometimes did

2. to leave abandoned, isolated, or helpless

vi.

☆ Obs. in the South, to camp out or picnic for several days