1. adj. & n.
--adj. (of an animal, esp. a horse or cow) having a coat of which the prevailing colour is thickly interspersed with hairs of another colour, esp. bay or sorrel or chestnut mixed with white or grey.
--n. a roan animal.
Phrases and idioms:
blue roan adj. black mixed with white.
--n. a blue roan animal. red roan adj. bay mixed with white or grey.
--n. a red roan animal. strawberry roan adj. chestnut mixed with white or grey.
--n. a strawberry roan animal.
Etymology: OF, of unkn. orig. 2. n. soft sheepskin leather used in bookbinding as a substitute for morocco.
Etymology: ME, perh. f. Roan, old name of Rouen in N. France