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brindled (adj.)
of horses, cows, dogs, etc., "marked with streaks, streaked with a darker color," 1670s, a variant of Middle English brended (early 15c.), from bren "brown color" (13c.), noun from past participle of brennen "burn" (from Proto-Germanic *brennan "to burn," from PIE root *gwher- "to heat, warm"). The etymological sense of the adjective appears to be "marked as though by branding or burning." The form was altered perhaps by influence of kindled.
updated on October 24, 2022
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