Moorish
adjective
of or relating to the Moors, a Muslim people of NW Africa.
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Moorish
American
[moor-ish]
/ ˈmʊər ɪʃ /
adjective
-
of or relating to the Moors, a Muslim people of NW Africa.
-
in the style of the Moors, as architecture or decoration.
moorish
British
/ ˈmʊərɪʃ, ˈmɔː- /
adjective
-
of or relating to the Moors
-
denoting the style of architecture used in Spain from the 13th to 16th century, characterized by the horseshoe arch
Etymology
Origin of Moorish
First recorded in 1400–50, Moorish is from the late Middle English word morys. See Moor, -ish 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
That level of period detail extends to Bradbury & Bradbury wallpaper, ball-trim swag valances and wall air vents laser-cut in Moorish patterns.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
Drought-stricken farmers in Spain have reclaimed medieval Moorish irrigation technology.
From Salon ● Feb. 26, 2024
Teams of horsemen dressed as Spanish, Moorish, African and Indigenous warriors engage in mock battles with spears and lances.
From New York Times ● Jan. 16, 2024
In Andalusia, there is an enormous Islamic, Berber and Moorish influence that has shaped Spanish culture, language and architecture.
From BBC ● Nov. 15, 2023
Many years later there were those who still insisted that the royal guard of the intruding queen was a squad of regular army soldiers who were concealing government-issue rifles under their rich Moorish robes.
From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
The moorish, sort of gothic feeling that you get when you go there—I think that’s part of it.
From Slate ● May 18, 2016
On the moorish sabbath, which was also their market-day, the Christian slaves were not required to labour, unless on extraordinary occasions, when there was any particular work to do, which could not be delayed.
From Lander's Travels The Travels of Richard Lander into the Interior of Africa by Robert Huish
O music of all moods and climes, Vengeful, forgiving, sensuous, saintly, 55Where still, between the Christian chimes, The moorish cymbal tinkles faintly!
From The Vision of Sir Launfal And Other Poems by James Russell Lowell; With a Biographical Sketch and Notes, a Portrait and Other Illustrations by James Russell Lowell
Another moorish merchant afterwards informed Mr. M'Donogh, British consul at Tripoli, that Yussuph was in safety at Kashna, in June 1803, and was there highly respected as a mussulman, marabout or saint.
From Lander's Travels The Travels of Richard Lander into the Interior of Africa by Robert Huish
We were rowing down that side of the lake which had hitherto been little else than a moorish ridge.
From Recollections of a Tour Made in Scotland A.D. 1803 by John Campbell Shairp
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
