Moresk, or Morisco, a kind of painting, carving, &c. done after the manner of the Moors; consisting of several grotesque pieces and compartments promiscuously intermingled, not containing any perfect figure of a man, or other animal, but a wild resemblance of birds, beasts, trees, &c. There are also called arabesques, and are particularly used in embroideries, damask work, &c.

Moresque Dances, vulgarly called Morrice dances, are those altogether in imitation of the Moors, as farabands, chacons, &c. and are usually performed with castanets, tambours, &c.

There are few country places in England where the morrice dance is not known. It was probably introduced about, or a little before, the reign of Henry VIII. and is a dance of young men in their shirts, with bells at their feet, and ribbands of various colours tied round their arms and flung across their shoulders.