maroon
UK[məˈruːn]US[məˈruːn]
adj
of a dark reddish-brown colour
v
to leave someone in a place where they cannot escape
Etymology
The word 'maroon' has a dual history converging in English. Its use as a colour name derives from the French 'marron', meaning 'chestnut', which itself came from an Italian dialect word. The verb, meaning to abandon, originates in the 17th century from the noun 'maroon', a term for a fugitive enslaved person in the West Indies, which came from the Spanish 'cimarrón' meaning 'wild, untamed'. This Spanish term is thought to have roots in a Taino word. The colour sense likely became associated with the dark, earthy tones of chestnuts, while the verb sense evolved from the act of leaving people isolated in remote, wild places.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword. Its spelling and form were adopted as a whole from French.
Examples
She wore a stylish maroon dress to the evening reception.
The pirates threatened to maroon the mutineers on a deserted island.
The university's official colours are maroon and white.