Morocco

[muh-rok-oh]

noun

1. French Maroc. Spanish Marruecos. a kingdom in northwestern Africa: formed from a sultanate that was divided into two protectorates French Morocco and Spanish Morocco and an international zone. 172,104 sq. mi. (445,749 sq. km). Rabat.

2. former name of Marrakesh.

3. (lowercase),  a fine, pebble-grained leather, originally made in Morocco from goatskin tanned with sumac.

4. (lowercase),  any leather made in imitation of a fine, pebble-grained leather originally made in Morocco.

morocco

¹

/ məˈrɒkəʊ /

noun

1. 1. a fine soft leather made from goatskins, used for bookbinding, shoes, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      morocco leather

Morocco

²

/ məˈrɒkəʊ /

noun

1. French name: Maroc. a kingdom in NW Africa, on the Mediterranean and the Atlantic: conquered by the Arabs in about 683, who introduced Islam; at its height under Berber dynasties (11th–13th centuries); became a French protectorate in 1912 and gained independence in 1956. It is mostly mountainous, with the Atlas Mountains in the centre and the Rif range along the Mediterranean coast, with the Sahara in the south and southeast; an important exporter of phosphates. Official language: Arabic; Berber and French are also widely spoken. Official religion: (Sunni) Muslim. Currency: dirham. Capital: Rabat. Pop: 32 649 130 (2013 est). Area: 458 730 sq km (177 117 sq miles)

Morocco

1. Kingdom in northwestern Africa with coasts on the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea; it is bordered by Algeria to the east and the western Sahara to the south. Its largest city is Casablanca, and its capital is Rabat.

Other Word Forms

• anti-Moroccan adjective
• Moroccan adjective
• pro-Moroccan adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of morocco¹

C17: after _Morocco , where it was originally made

Example Sentences

He soon stirred; my eye was instantly drawn to his movements; he only took out a morocco pocket-book, thence produced a letter, which he read in silence, folded it, put it back, relapsed into meditation.

From Literature

A vignette I am tempted to add to Barchas’s collection would describe the presentation copy of “Emma,” bound in red morocco gilt, that Austen reluctantly sent to the Prince Regent in 1815.

From New York Times

In the harness room he lifted down a little saddle of red morocco leather.

From Literature

He extracted a book covered in rich green morocco leather handsomely tipped with gold.

From Literature

Mr. Fellowes’s show could easily be dismissed as a Harlequin romance novel in morocco leather binding, but it casts a spell on viewers not unlike the allure of a Harry Potter novel.

From New York Times