It is possible that the name Dunn is sometimes due to this specific application of the word. The colour blue appears as Blew–
"At last he rose, and twitch'd his mantle blew:
To-morrow to fresh woods and pastures new"
(Lycidas, 1. 192)—
and earlier still as Blow—
"Blak, blo, grenysh, swartysh, reed."
(House of Fame, iii. 557.)
Other colour names of French origin are Morel, swarthy, like a Moor, also found as Murrell [Footnote: This, like Merrill, is sometimes from Muriel.]; and Burnell, Burnett, dims. of brun, brown. Chaucer speaks of—
"Daun Burnet the asse" (B, 4502);
[Footnote: Lat. dominus; the masculine form of dame in Old French.]
"Daun Russel the fox" (B, 4524.)