roan

Etymology 1

From Middle French roan, probably from Spanish roano, from Old Spanish raudano, itself probably of Germanic origin (compare Gothic 𐍂𐌰𐌿𐌳𐌰𐌽 (raudan), accusative of 𐍂𐌰𐌿𐌸𐍃 (rauþs, “red”). Compare rowan.

adj

1. Especially of a horse, having a coat of a dark base color with individual white hairs mixed in
2. Made of the leather called roan.
   roan binding

noun

1. An animal such as a horse that has a coat of a dark base color with individual white hairs mixed in.
2. The color of such an animal.
3. A kind of leather used for slippers, bookbinding, etc., made from sheepskin, tanned with sumac and colored to imitate ungrained morocco.
   Roan, a kind of leather used for shoes, slippers, and common bookbinding; prepared from sheep skins by tanning with sumach. 1882, Leo de Colange, The American Encyclopaedia of Commerce, Manufactures, Commercial Law, and Finance, volume 2

Etymology 2

noun

1. Archaic form of rowan (“kind of tree”).