brindled

[prettygoodword]

brindled (BRIN-dld) - adj., brownish, tawny, or gray with darker streaks or spots.


Almost always used of animal coats:


Thanks, WikiMedia!

Alteration (after the model of grizzled, speckled, and other color words) of Middle English brended, probably from brende, past participle of brennen, to burn, from from Old English bærnan, to burn. So literally, looking like it has scorch marks.

---L.

Comments

[ranunculus]

That is a very interesting harness on that cow. I presume it is to keep her calf from sucking on her rear two teats, thus preserving the milk for the humans. Even more interesting since the cow looks like she has more beef cow ancestry than milk cow heritage; right up until you see her udder which is really big for a beef cow!

[prettygoodword]

Iceland cows have an interesting heritage. They were primarily used for dairy through the middle ages (milk products were a staple because you could preserve them through winter), but I don't know how breeding has changed in modern times.

[feast_of_regrets]

Brindled is one of my favorite words. That is a beautiful cow!

[prettygoodword]

It is!

[lokifan]

Interesting to hear where it comes from!

[prettygoodword]

I probably should have expected that root sense, but I totally didn't.

[loup_noir]

Decades ago, we were on vacation somewhere in the UK when we saw a small herd of cattle being moved. One of the cows had sprung a leak in her udder. There were streams of milk arching as she waddled. This "bra" looks like something she could have used.

[prettygoodword]

Interesting!

[flwyd]

Yes, that is quite the udder.

[prettygoodword]

🤣