brindled

[ brin-dld ]

adjective

1. gray or tawny with darker streaks or spots.

brindled

/ ˈbrɪndəld /

adjective

1. brown or grey streaked or patched with a darker colour

   a brindled dog

Word History and Origins

Origin of brindled¹

1670–80; alteration of brinded, with -le perhaps from grizzled, speckled ( def ), etc.

Word History and Origins

Origin of brindled¹

C17: changed from C15 brended , literally: branded, probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse bröndottr ; see brand

Example Sentences

Dragonfish have “luminous barbels swinging from their chins”; a Pacific sleeper shark possesses “a body as brindled as old granite.”

From Scientific American

It was on a mammoth brindled rock, stained with rust, black and orange.

From Washington Post

In April, the brindled, lanky dog, who was left outside 24/7, according to Rafaela, had again escaped.

From Washington Post

Ek and Do each had two rows of eyes, and short brindled fur.

From Literature

Greyhounds aren’t just gray either; they can be black, bluish gray, light red or brindled in different shades of red or blue.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• flecked
• mottled
• sprinkled