dun

Everyday

1. Dun is a dull greyish-brown colour. tree →
2. A dun is a horse of this colour, usually with a darker mane and tail. tree →
3. (old) To dun someone is to keep asking them firmly to pay money they owe. tree →
4. In some dialects «dun» is just a spelling of «done» in very casual writing. tree →

In the lessons

Rare in children's books except for horses and old-fashioned descriptions of plain clothes and land. Tells the reader something looks plain and earthy. Phrases: dun-coloured, a dun pony.

Examples

• The farmer rode a dun pony with a black mane. tree →
• The moor was dun and brown in winter. tree →
• She wore a plain dun coat. tree →
• (old) The landlord dunned him for the rent. tree →
• The sparrow's feathers are dun and grey. tree →
• In the old book, a dun cow grazed in the field. tree →

Note

Sounds like «done» and «Dunn» (a surname). «I'm dun» for «I'm done» is a texting misspelling, not standard. Dunned has double n.