maroon

Meanings

Noun

• An escaped negro of the Caribbean and the Americas or a descendant of such a person.
• A castaway; a person who has been marooned.
• A rich dark red, somewhat brownish, color.
• A rocket-propelled firework or skyrocket, often one used as a signal (e.g. to summon the crew of a lifeboat or warn of an air raid).
• An idiot; a fool.

Adjective

• Associated with Maroon culture, communities or peoples.
• Of a maroon color

Verb

• To abandon in a remote, desolate place, as on a desert island.

Origin

• From French marron ("feral; fugitive"), from Spanish cimarrón ("fugitive, wild, feral"); see that entry for more.
• French marron ("chestnut; brown"), from Italian marrone ("chestnut; brown"). Compare Spanish marrón.
• Unknown. Possibly owing to the fact that the color of a fired flare was commonly red.
• From an intentional mispronunciation of the word moron used by the cartoon character Bugs Bunny.