maroons

Noun (1)

maroon (plural maroons)

1. An escaped black slave of the Caribbean and the Americas or a descendant of such a person.
   • Further north a Maroon community in the Bahoruco Mountains thrived for eighty-five years, until the French proposed a truce under the terms of which the Maroons would be permitted to form an independent clan.1985, Wade Davis, The Serpent and the Rainbow, Simon & Schuster, page 193

   Synonyms:

   Bush Negro, Boschneger

2. A castaway; a person who has been marooned (abandoned).

   Synonyms:

   castaway, marooner

Noun (2)

maroon (countable and uncountable, plural maroons)

1. A rich dark red, somewhat brownish, color.
   • Is it a really dark maroon or a lighter maroon or a maroon that leans toward the red side? Or the magenta side? To address this issue, scientists use something called a color space.2009, Ben Long, The Nikon D90 Companion: Practical Photography Advice You Can Take Anywhere, O'Reilly Media, Inc., →ISBN, page 176

Noun (3)

maroon (plural maroons)

1. A rocket-propelled firework or skyrocket, often one used as a signal (for example, to summon the crew of a lifeboat or warn of an air raid).
   • On Sunday afternoon a serious firework explosion occurred in Lambeth, whereby three persons were seriously injured. Two lads […] purchased a firework called a “maroon”, which is a bomb consisting of a small ball of string covered with a red composition. It is loaded with gunpowder, and there is...1887 November 5, “Metropolitan Reports”, in The Chemist and Druggist, page 564

Noun (4)

maroon (plural maroons)

1. (derogatory, slang) An idiot; a fool.
   • At least, I would not be sleeping that night. Why did I have that espresso? What a maroon!2011, S. Watts Taylor, Tarnish, iUniverse, published 2011, →ISBN, page 21

   Synonyms:

   alcatote, asshat, arsehole, asshole, bayard, berk, birdbrain, blither, bobchin, bonehead

See all 10 meanings of maroon