grizzledadj.
/ˈɡrɪz(ə)ld/ 1.
a. Grey, grizzly; now used almost exclusively of hair. Also (now dialect), roan-coloured.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > hair > colour of hair > [adjective] > grey, hoary
grey1207
hoarc1290
frostya1450
forhoaredc1450
grizzled1458
hoary1530
hoared1557
greyish1567
wintry1579
silver1590
silveredc1600
silver-grey1607
frosted1628
iron-grey1809
iron-greyed1826
grizzly1843
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > colour or marking > [adjective] > roan
grizzlec1425
grizzled1458
roaned1477
roan1558
blue roan1687
rount1688
1458 in J. Raine Testamenta Eboracensia (1855) II. 216 A lytill grecelled nage.
c1485 Inventory in J. T. Fowler Acts Church SS. Peter & Wilfrid, Ripon (1875) 372 Equus griseld.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 314/1 Graye or gryselde, grisellé.
1595 in W. H. Stevenson Rec. Borough Nottingham (1889) IV. 64 Et quarta est coloris grey greistled.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 103 Cats are of diuers colours, but for the most part gryseld, like to congealed yse.
1609 W. Shakespeare Pericles x. 47 The grisled North Disgorges such a tempest forth. View more context for this quotation
1611 Bible (King James) Zech. vi. 3 In the third charet white horses and in the fourth charet grisled and bay horses. View more context for this quotation
1660 Exact Accompt Trial Regicides (1679) 273 The other had a grey grisled periwig hung down very low.
1728 E. Young Love of Fame v, in Wks. (1757) I. 137 Her grizzled locks assume a smirking grace.
1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake iii. 101 His grisled beard and matted hair.
1841 C. Dickens Old Curiosity Shop i. iii. 85 Such hair as he had, was of a grizzled black.
1876 T. Hardy Hand of Ethelberta II. xli. 168 Ethelberta..entering the nave began to inspect the sallow monuments which lined the grizzled pile.
b. grizzled sandpiper, grizzled skipper: see the nouns.
2. Having grey hair.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > hair > colour of hair > [adjective] > grey, hoary > having
hoarc1290
grey?c1335
grey-haireda1425
hasard1513
grey-headed1535
hoar-headed1561
hoary1580
grizzleda1616
silver-headed1643
silver-haired1665
a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) iii. xiii. 16 To the Boy Cæsar send this grizled head. View more context for this quotation
1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth v, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. III. 99 Torquil of the Oak, a grizzled giant.
1877 W. Black Green Pastures (1878) xi. 86 The only occupant of the yard was a grizzled and feeble old man.
1886 J. R. Rees Pleasures of Book-worm i. 22 With his serious old grizzled face he appears at the office.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.1458