My edition of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) describes the word "dun" as "Of a dull or dingy brown colour; now esp. dull greyish brown, like the hair of the ass and mouse" and suggests it may derive from the Old English "dun(n), the Irish and Gaelic "donn" or the Welsh "dwn". Consequently it is used to describe one of the three colours that feature in Belted Galloway cattle, the others being red (i.e. orange brown) and black. I've seen plenty of Black Belted Galloways, but no reds, and, until recently no duns. However, on a recent family visit to the summit of May Hill, Gloucestershire, I noticed a Dun Belted Galloway cow in the bracken with some black examples of the breed.
photo © T. Boughen Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2
