moor

¹

[ moor ]

noun

1. a tract of open, peaty, wasteland, often overgrown with heath, common in high latitudes and altitudes where drainage is poor; heath.
2. a tract of land preserved for game.

moor

²

[ moor ]

verb (used with object)

1. to secure (a ship, boat, dirigible, etc.) in a particular place, as by cables and anchors or by lines.
2. to fix firmly; secure.

verb (used without object)

1. to moor a ship, small boat, etc.
2. to be made secure by cables or the like.

noun

1. the act of mooring.

Moor

³

[ moor ]

noun

1. a Muslim of the mixed Berber and Arab people inhabiting NW Africa.
2. a member of this group that invaded Spain in the 8th century a.d. and occupied it until 1492.

moor

¹

/ mɔː; mʊə /

verb

1. to secure (a ship, boat, etc) with cables or ropes
2. (of a ship, boat, etc) to be secured in this way
3. (not in technical usage) a less common word for anchor

moor

²

/ mɔː; mʊə /

noun

1. a tract of unenclosed ground, usually having peaty soil covered with heather, coarse grass, bracken, and moss

Moor

³

/ mʊə; mɔː /

noun

1. a member of a Muslim people of North Africa, of mixed Arab and Berber descent. In the 8th century they were converted to Islam and established power in North Africa and Spain, where they established a civilization (756–1492)

Derived Forms

• ˈmoory, adjective

Other Words From

• moory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of moor¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English more, Old English mōr; cognate with Dutch moer, German Moor “marsh”

Origin of moor²

First recorded in 1485–95; earlier more, akin to Old English mǣrels- in mǣrelsrāp “rope for mooring a ship”; marline

Origin of moor³

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English More, from Middle French, variant of Maure, from Latin Maurus, from Greek Maûros, perhaps from Berber

Word History and Origins

Origin of moor¹

C15: of Germanic origin; related to Old English mǣrelsrāp rope for mooring

Origin of moor²

Old English mōr; related to Old Saxon mōr, Old High German muor swamp

Origin of moor³

C14: via Old French from Latin Maurus, from Greek Mauros, possibly from Berber

Example Sentences

Mr McGreanery, a shop assistant, was shot after a member of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards – known as Soldier A - opened fire from an Army sanger overlooking the junctions of Eastway, Lone Moor Road and Westland Street.

From BBC

The organisation is now calling for all the UK’s devolved nations to follow Scotland’s example and bring in licensing for grouse moor estates.

From BBC

Det Ch Insp Iain Moor, from Hertfordshire Constabulary's major crime unit, led the investigation.

From BBC

Montebello at Moor Field, 7 p.m.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr Iles lives with his wife and two daughters on Yew Tree Moor, which overlooks the green space where the homes are planned.

From BBC

Related Words

• dock
• tether
• tie up