Meanings
moor1
nounmoor (plural moors)
plural moors
- An extensive waste covered with patches of heath, and having a poor, light (and usually acidic) soil, but sometimes marshy, and abounding in peat; a heath. (Compare bog, peatland, marsh, swamp, fen.)
In her girlish age, she kept sheep on the moor.
3 more examples
A cold, biting wind blew across the moor, and the travellers hastened their step.
the ruins yet resting in the wild moors
1609, Richard Carew, The Survey of Cornwall, London: […] S[imon] S[tafford] for Iohn Iaggard, […], →OCLCAnd now, without a word of warning from the Ghost, they stood upon a bleak and desert moor, where monstrous masses of rude stone were cast about, as though it were the burial-place of giants; and water spread itself wheresoever it listed, or would have done so, but for the frost that held it prisoner; and nothing grew but moss and furze, and coarse rank grass.
1843, Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, →OCLC, pages 101-102
moor2
verbmoor (third-person singular simple present moors, present participle mooring, simple past and past participle moored)
present singular third person moors · participle present mooring · participle past moored · past moored
- transitivenauticalTo fix or secure (e.g. a vessel) in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with ropes, cables or chains or the like.
They moored the boat to the wharf.
1 more example
His thought is tied, the curving prow Of motion moored to rock; And minutes burst upon a brow Insentient to shock.
1941, Theodore Roethke, “Death Piece”, in Open House, New York, N.Y.: Alfred A[braham] Knopf, →OCLC; republished in The Collected Poems of Theodore Roethke, London: Faber and Faber […], 1968, →OCLC, page 4
Moor3
nounMoor (plural Moors)
plural Moors
- historicalA member of an ancient Amazigh people from Mauretania.
- historicalA member of an Islamic people of Arab or Amazigh origin ruling Spain and parts of North Africa from the 8th to the 15th centuries.
[King of] Moro[cco]. Ye Moores and valiant men of Barbary, How can ye ſuffer theſe indignities?
c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act III, scene iii - archaicA Muslim or a person from the Middle East or Africa.
- datedA person of mixed Arab and Amazigh ancestry inhabiting the Mediterranean coastline of northwest Africa.
- A person of an ethnic group speaking the Hassaniya Arabic language, mainly inhabiting Western Sahara, Mauritania, and parts of neighbouring countries (Morocco, Mali, Senegal etc.).
Moor4
Synonyms & antonyms
Opposite
nounopen land usually with peaty soil covered with heather and bracken and moss
Similar
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
moor · noun
- Proto-Indo-European*móri
- Proto-Germanic*mōraz
- Proto-West Germanic*mōr
- Old Englishmōr
- Middle Englishmor
- Englishmoor
From Middle English mor, from Old English mōr, from Proto-West Germanic *mōr, from Proto-Germanic *mōraz, from Proto-Indo-European *móri. Cognates include Welsh môr, Old Irish muir (from Proto-Celtic *mori); Scots muir, Dutch moer, Old Saxon mōr, Old Saxon mūr, German Moor and perhaps also Gothic 𐌼𐌰𐍂𐌴𐌹 (marei). See mere.
More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-West Germanic
Full word history & related roots →moor · verb
- Proto-Indo-European*mēyt-
- Proto-West Germanic*mairōn“to moor, fasten to”
- Old English*mārian
- Middle Englishmoren
- Englishmoor
From Middle English moren, from unattested Old English *mārian, from Proto-West Germanic *mairōn (“to moor, fasten to”), related to *maida- (“post”), from Proto-Indo-European *mēyt-, *meyt-, from *mēy-, *mey- (“stake, pole”). Cognate with Dutch meren (“to moor”), marren (“to bind”).
More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-West Germanic
Full word history & related roots →Moor · noun
- Ancient GreekΜαυρούσιος“Mauretanian”
- LatinMaurus“a Moor, meaning a Mauretanian, an inhabitant of Mauretania”
- Old FrenchMore
- Middle EnglishMore
- EnglishMoor
From Middle English More, Moore, from Old French More (modern French Maure), from Latin Maurus (“a Moor, meaning a Mauretanian, an inhabitant of Mauretania”), from Ancient Greek Μαυρούσιος (Mauroúsios, “Mauretanian”). Doublet of Moro.
More words from Middle English, Old French, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Arabic بِرْكَة, سَبْخَة
- بِرْكَة (birka)region with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- سَبْخَة (sabḵa)region with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- مُسْتَنْقَع (mustanqaʕ)region with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
Bulgarian акостирам, приставам
- акостирам (akostiram)to cast anchor or become fastened
- приставам (pristavam)to cast anchor or become fastened
- закотвям (zakotvjam)to fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains
Catalan erm, amarrar
- ermregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- amarrarto cast anchor or become fastened
- amarrarto fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains
- amarrarto secure or fix firmly
Chinese Mandarin 荒澤 /荒泽, 荒地
- 荒澤 /荒泽 (huāngzé)region with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- 荒地 (huāngdì)region with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- 系泊 (jìbó)to cast anchor or become fastened
- 泊 (bó)to cast anchor or become fastened
- 停泊 (tíngbó)to cast anchor or become fastened
- 摩爾人 /摩尔人 (Mó'ěrrén)a member of a certain mixed ethnicity of Arab and Amazigh people
Czech vřesoviště, Maur
- vřesovištěregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- Maura member of a this ethnicity that formerly occupied Spain
- Maura member of a certain mixed ethnicity of Arab and Amazigh people
Danish hede, revir
- hederegion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- revirgame preserve
- lægge tilto cast anchor or become fastened
- fortøjeto cast anchor or become fastened
- fortøjeto fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains
- maurera member of a this ethnicity that formerly occupied Spain
- maurera member of a certain mixed ethnicity of Arab and Amazigh people
Dutch veen, aanmeren
- veenregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- aanmerento cast anchor or become fastened
- aanleggento cast anchor or become fastened
- merento fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains
- verankerento secure or fix firmly
- Moora member of a this ethnicity that formerly occupied Spain
- Moora member of a certain mixed ethnicity of Arab and Amazigh people
Esperanto stepo, plataĵo
- steporegion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- plataĵoregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- erikejoregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- maŭroa member of a this ethnicity that formerly occupied Spain
- maŭroa member of a certain mixed ethnicity of Arab and Amazigh people
Estonian raba, nõmm
- rabaregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- nõmmregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- sooregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- maura member of a certain mixed ethnicity of Arab and Amazigh people
Finnish nummi, kiinnittyä
- nummiregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- kiinnittyäto cast anchor or become fastened
- ankkuroituato cast anchor or become fastened
- kiinnittääto fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains
- ankkuroidato fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains
- kiinnittääto secure or fix firmly
- mauria member of a this ethnicity that formerly occupied Spain
- mauria member of a certain mixed ethnicity of Arab and Amazigh people
French lande, mouiller
- landeregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- mouillerto cast anchor or become fastened
- amarrerto cast anchor or become fastened
- ancrerto cast anchor or become fastened
- ancrerto fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains
- amarrerto fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains
- Maurea member of a this ethnicity that formerly occupied Spain
- Maurea member of a certain mixed ethnicity of Arab and Amazigh people
German Hochmoor, anlegen
- Hochmoorregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- anlegento cast anchor or become fastened
- ankernto cast anchor or become fastened
- vertäuento fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains
- festmachento secure or fix firmly
- Maurea member of a this ethnicity that formerly occupied Spain
- Maurina member of a this ethnicity that formerly occupied Spain
- Mohra member of a this ethnicity that formerly occupied Spain
- Mohrina member of a this ethnicity that formerly occupied Spain
- Maurea member of a certain mixed ethnicity of Arab and Amazigh people
- Maurina member of a certain mixed ethnicity of Arab and Amazigh people
- Mohra member of a certain mixed ethnicity of Arab and Amazigh people
- Mohrina member of a certain mixed ethnicity of Arab and Amazigh people
Greek Μαυριτανός, Μαυριτανός
- Μαυριτανός (Mavritanós)a member of a this ethnicity that formerly occupied Spain
- Μαυριτανός (Mavritanós)a member of a certain mixed ethnicity of Arab and Amazigh people
Hindi मूर, मूर
- मूर (mūr)a member of a this ethnicity that formerly occupied Spain
- मूर (mūr)a member of a certain mixed ethnicity of Arab and Amazigh people
Hungarian mocsár, láp
- mocsárregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- lápregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- ingoványregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- kikötto cast anchor or become fastened
- móra member of a this ethnicity that formerly occupied Spain
- móra member of a certain mixed ethnicity of Arab and Amazigh people
Icelandic mýri, heiði
- mýriregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- heiðiregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- mária member of a this ethnicity that formerly occupied Spain
- mária member of a certain mixed ethnicity of Arab and Amazigh people
Irish móinteán, caorán
- móinteánregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- caoránregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- feistighto fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains
- múráilto fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains
- feistighto secure or fix firmly
- fosaighto secure or fix firmly
- suighto secure or fix firmly
- daingnighto secure or fix firmly
Italian landa, brughiera
- landaregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- brughieraregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- ancorareto cast anchor or become fastened
- attraccareto cast anchor or become fastened
- attraccareto fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains
- ancorarsito fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains
- moroa member of a this ethnicity that formerly occupied Spain
- moroa member of a certain mixed ethnicity of Arab and Amazigh people
Japanese 荒野, 荒れ地
- 荒野region with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- 荒れ地region with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- 停泊する (teihaku suru)to cast anchor or become fastened
- 停泊させる (teihaku saseru)to fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains
- ムーア人 (mūajin)a member of a certain mixed ethnicity of Arab and Amazigh people
Korean 무어인
- 무어인 (mueoin)a member of a certain mixed ethnicity of Arab and Amazigh people
Latin loca fruticetis obsita
- loca fruticetis obsitaregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
Norwegian lynghei, legge til
- lyngheiregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- legge tilto cast anchor or become fastened
- fortøyeto cast anchor or become fastened
Norwegian Bokmål fortøye, maurer
- fortøyeto fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains
- maurera member of a this ethnicity that formerly occupied Spain
- maurera member of a certain mixed ethnicity of Arab and Amazigh people
Persian مهار کردن
- مهار کردن (mahâr kardan)to cast anchor or become fastened
Polish wrzosowisko, torfowisko
- wrzosowiskoregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- torfowiskoregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- cumowaćto cast anchor or become fastened
- cumowaćto fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains
- przycumowaćto fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains
- zacumowaćto fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains
- Maura member of a this ethnicity that formerly occupied Spain
- Maura member of a certain mixed ethnicity of Arab and Amazigh people
Portuguese charneca, ancorar
- charnecaregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- ancorarto cast anchor or become fastened
- atracarto cast anchor or become fastened
- ancorarto fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains
- atracarto secure or fix firmly
- mouroa member of a this ethnicity that formerly occupied Spain
- moiroa member of a this ethnicity that formerly occupied Spain
- mouroa member of a certain mixed ethnicity of Arab and Amazigh people
- moiroa member of a certain mixed ethnicity of Arab and Amazigh people
Romanian maur, maur
- maura member of a this ethnicity that formerly occupied Spain
- maura member of a certain mixed ethnicity of Arab and Amazigh people
Russian ве́ресковая пу́стошь, пу́стошь
- ве́ресковая пу́стошь (véreskovaja pústošʹ)region with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- пу́стошь (pústošʹ)region with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- охо́тничье уго́дье (oxótničʹje ugódʹje)game preserve
- уча́сток для охо́ты (učástok dlja oxóty)game preserve
- прича́лить (pričálitʹ)to cast anchor or become fastened
- прича́ливать (pričálivatʹ)to cast anchor or become fastened
- стать на я́корь (statʹ na jákorʹ)to cast anchor or become fastened
- става́ть на я́корь (stavátʹ na jákorʹ)to cast anchor or become fastened
- пришвартова́ться (prišvartovátʹsja)to cast anchor or become fastened
- пришвартовыва́ться (prišvartovyvátʹsja)to cast anchor or become fastened
- ста́вить на я́корь (stávitʹ na jákorʹ)to fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains
- поста́вить на я́корь (postávitʹ na jákorʹ)to fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains
- швартова́ть (švartovátʹ)to fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains
- пришвартова́ть (prišvartovátʹ)to fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains
- пришвартовыва́ть (prišvartovyvátʹ)to fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains
- крепи́ть (krepítʹ)to secure or fix firmly
- мавр (mavr)a member of a this ethnicity that formerly occupied Spain
- мавр (mavr)a member of a certain mixed ethnicity of Arab and Amazigh people
Scottish Gaelic monadh, sliabh
- monadhregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- sliabhregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- mòinteachregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
Spanish brezal, pantano
- brezalregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- pantanoregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- turberaregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- anclarto cast anchor or become fastened
- anclarto fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains
- amarrarto fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains
- atarto secure or fix firmly
- amarrarto secure or fix firmly
- asegurarto secure or fix firmly
- fijarto secure or fix firmly
- moroa member of a this ethnicity that formerly occupied Spain
- moroa member of a certain mixed ethnicity of Arab and Amazigh people
Swedish hed, ljunghed
- hedregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- ljunghedregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- lägga tillto cast anchor or become fastened
- förtöjato cast anchor or become fastened
- förtöjato fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains
- mora member of a this ethnicity that formerly occupied Spain
- mora member of a certain mixed ethnicity of Arab and Amazigh people
Tagalog labon
- labonregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
Turkish kır, yanaşmak
- kırregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- yanaşmakto cast anchor or become fastened
- demir atmakto cast anchor or become fastened
Ukrainian швартува́ти, пришвартува́ти
- швартува́ти (švartuváty)to fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains
- пришвартува́ти (pryšvartuváty)to fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains
- мавр (mavr)a member of a certain mixed ethnicity of Arab and Amazigh people
Welsh gwaun, rhos
- gwaunregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
- rhosregion with poor, marshy soil, peat and heath
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with moor
fororyourmorestorebeforefourwarsuretourmaturesecurethereforeensureflooroutdoorcorepoorhardcorenorexplorepureMoorehorror
All rhymes →Sounds the same
Mooremore (pour–poor merger)maw (most non-rhotic accents with the pour–poor merger)mooer (some accents)Mooremore (pour–poor merger)maw (most non-rhotic accents with the pour–poor merger)mooer (some accents)
Anagrams
Cite this entry
APA
moor. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/moor
MLA
“moor.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/moor. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “moor,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/moor.
Source: moor on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.