Mid 17th century; earliest use found in Moderate Intelligencer. Partly from French Morlaque, partly from Italian Morlacco, and partly from Croatian Morlak (also in form Morovlah; plural Morlaci), all from post-classical Latin Morovlachus, Morlachus, Morlacchus from Byzantine Greek Μαυρόβλαχος from μαῦρος black + Βλάχος Vlach. The people were apparently so called from their dark clothing, but compare the etymology of Montenegro.