▪ I. † ˈMorian, a. and n. Obs.
Also α. 6 Maurien, 6 Maurian; β. 6 Mooren, Moren, Moriane, Morien, Moryan, -en, Morryon, Murreyne, -ian, -ionn, -yen, -yon, (7 Moorian).
[Early mod.E. Morien, Maurien, -an, a. OF. Morien, Maurien, f. More, Maure, Moor n.2: see -ian.]
A. adj. Moorish, of Moorish race; pertaining to the Moors; resembling a Moor; black, dark.
| 1504 in Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scotl. (1900) II. 427 Item,..to the Moryen taubronar, v Franch crounis. 1570 Satir. Poems Reform. x. 133 Thocht he wes blak and Moriane of hew, In credite sone and gorgius clais he grew. 1595 Munday John a Kent (Shaks. Soc.) 17 First the golden Tunne Borne by that monstrous murrian black-a-moore. 1597 J. King On Jonas (1618) 493 What remaineth, but to repent? to change our Morian skinnes, to put off our stained coats, and to wash our feet from their filthinesse. |
B. n. A Moor, blackamoor, Negro.
| 1500 in Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scotl. (1900) II. 97 Item, to Petir the Moryen..xxviij s. 1509 Barclay Shyp of Folys (1570) 198 The uggly Maurians are also of this sect. a 1529 Skelton Agst. Garnesche iii. 170 Thou murrionn, thou mawment, Thou fals stynkyng serpent. 1535 Coverdale Ps. lxviii. 31 The Morians londe shal stretch out hir hondes vnto God. 1580 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 315 A faire pearle in a Murrians eare cannot make him white. 1657 Reeve God's Plea 120 How often hath this Morian been washed, and yet he is never the whiter? |
| attrib. c 1530 in Gutch Coll. Cur. II. 311 Oone doson of Sponnes parcell gilte withe morryan heddes. 1559 in Jupp Acc. Carpenters' Comp. (1887) 52 Item payd for skarffe for morren heads ijs vij{supd}. 1631 R. Brathwait Eng. Gentlew. (1641) 354 It is incredible what rare effects were sometimes drawne from a Morian-picture being onely hung up in a ladies Chamber. |
▪ II. Morian
variant of Marian n.1
| 1721 Mortimer Husb. (ed. 5) II. 245 Violet Morian, or Canterbury Bells, come up the first Year. |