Pronunciation: [ɹˈə͡ʊn] (IPA) 
Roan is a noun referring to a horse with a coat of mixed colors, usually white with black or brown. The spelling of the word is based on the English phonology system, with two vowels /o/ and /a/ that form a diphthong. The sound /o/ is pronounced with the open-mid back rounded vowel, while /a/ is pronounced with the open front unrounded vowel. The word is transcribed as /rəʊn/ in IPA phonetics, with stress on the first syllable.
Roan is an adjective commonly used to describe the color or appearance of an animal, particularly horses. It refers to a coat color characterized by a mixture or combination of white or gray hairs interspersed with hairs of another color, often a darker shade. This creates a unique, mottled or speckled appearance, resulting in a sort of dilution of the base coat color. Roan animals can exhibit a variety of combinations such as red roan, bay roan, blue roan, or strawberry roan, depending on the intensity of the contrast between the white/gray hairs and the darker hairs.
The term "roan" is also often used to refer to the breed of cattle that originated in the Roan River area of Scotland. These cattle are known for their characteristic roan coat pattern. Beyond animals, it can also represent other objects or phenomena that display a similar mottled or speckled appearance, such as rocks with a mix of different colors or textiles with a blend of shades.
The word "roan" originated from the Old French word "rouan," meaning reddish-brown, which ultimately derived from the Latin word "rubeus." Its usage has been prevalent since the 16th century and has become an established term in the equestrian and animal husbandry domains.
• Applied to a horse of a bay or dark colour, with spots of grey or white thickly interspersed; of a colour having a decided shade of red.
• Grained sheepskin leather.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "roan" originated from the Old French term "roan" or "rouan", which meant "chestnut horse" or "bay horse". It can be traced back to the Frankish language, where "rōhōno" was used to refer to horses of various reddish-brown shades. The Frankish term further derived from the Proto-Germanic word "rauhaz", meaning "reddish-brown". This term ultimately evolved into the Old English word "rāwen", which specifically referred to a type of horse coat color. Over time, the spelling and pronunciation of the word changed, and the term "roan" came to encompass the specific color of horses with a mixture of white and another color, usually black or bay.
