moray

[ mawr-ey, mohr-ey; maw-rey, moh- ]

/ ˈmɔr eɪ, ˈmoʊr eɪ; mɔˈreɪ, moʊ- /

noun, plural mo·rays.

any of numerous chiefly tropical eels of the family Muraenidae, having porelike gill openings and no pectoral fins.

Nearby words

Origin of moray

1615–25, Americanism; < Portuguese moréia < Latin mūraena < Greek mȳ́raina lamprey

Also called moray eel.

Definition for morays (2 of 2)

Moray

[ mur-ee ]

/ ˈmɜr i /

noun

a historic county in NE Scotland, on Moray Firth.

Formerly Elgin.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for morays

Morays verbal report is his only source, and Morays was hearsay gossip.
The Mystery of Mary Stuart|Andrew Lang
The fallen Moray must have been some other member of the brave and prolific family of Morays.
Sir William Wallace|A. F. Murison
At Morays request she annulled her restoration of consistorial jurisdiction to Archbishop Hamilton.
The Mystery of Mary Stuart|Andrew Lang
The morays wouldn't attack unless disturbed, and there was no reason for disturbing them.
The Wailing Octopus|Harold Leland Goodwin

Mary does not say, as in Morays account, that there is danger of Darnleys bringing her round to his will.
The Mystery of Mary Stuart|Andrew Lang

British Dictionary definitions for morays (1 of 3)

moray

/ (mɒˈreɪ) /

noun plural -rays

any voracious marine coastal eel of the family Muraenidae, esp Muraena helena, marked with brilliant patterns and colours

Word Origin for moray

C17: from Portuguese moréia, from Latin mūrēna, from Greek muraina

British Dictionary definitions for morays (2 of 3)

Moray

/ (ˈmʌrɪ) /

noun

a council area and historical county of NE Scotland: part of Grampian region from 1975 to 1996: mainly hilly, with the Cairngorm mountains in the S. Administrative centre: Elgin. Pop: 87 460 (2003 est). Area: 2238 sq km (874 sq miles)Former name: Elgin

British Dictionary definitions for morays (3 of 3)

Moray

Murray

/ (ˈmʌrɪ) /

noun

1st Earl of, title of James Stuart. ?1531–70, regent of Scotland (1567–70) following the abdication of Mary, Queen of Scots, his half-sister. He defeated Mary and Bothwell at Langside (1568); assassinated by a follower of Mary

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for morays

moray

1620s, from Portuguese moreia, from Latin muraena "sea eel, lamprey," from Greek smyraina, from smyros "sea eel."