moor

Moor can refer to two distinct things in English. First, a geographical sense: a moor is an expanse of open, uncultivated land, typically found on high or poorly drained grounds. Moorlands have acidic soils and vegetation such as heather, grasses, and moss, and are common in upland regions of the British Isles and parts of Northern Europe. They are used for grazing, peat extraction, and conservation, and management practices influence habitat biodiversity and drainage.

Second, a historical sense: the term Moor denotes Muslim inhabitants of the Maghreb and Iberian Peninsula during medieval times. Derived from Latin Maurus, it came to describe Berber and Arab communities associated with Islamic rule in North Africa and Al-Andalus. The Moors arrived in Iberia in the early 8th century and played a key role in cultural and scientific exchange across the Mediterranean, leaving architectural and agricultural legacies. The designation is not a precise ethnic label, as the populations were diverse and included various Arab, Berber, and other groups who practiced Islam. The period effectively ended with the Reconquista, culminating in 1492 with the fall of Granada and the subsequent withdrawal of Muslim rule from the Iberian Peninsula.

In modern usage, "Moor" is often considered outdated or ambiguous when referring to people, with more specific terms such as "Muslim," "Berber," "Arab," or "North African" preferred. The word also survives in place names, literature, and discussions of Moorish art and architecture.