Brindle
/ˈbrɪn.dl̩/noun
Having fur or hair streaked or spotted with different colors, especially brown and black.
Did you know?Brindle is a genuine old English color term, and its exact origin is uncertain, which is why it has attracted multiple historical guesses rather than one settled “magic word” story.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
brindel / brindled
“Streaked or spotted with darker markings.”
16th Century
English
brindle
“A streaked or variegated pattern, especially in animal coats.”
Uncertain
Unknown
possibly related to brand
“Some scholars have suggested a connection with words meaning burned or marked, but this is not certain.”
Modern English
English
brindle
“A coat pattern marked by irregular dark stripes or streaks on a lighter background.”