black-and-tan

1 of 2

adjective

ˌbla-kən-ˈtan 

1

of a dog's coat : having a predominantly black color pattern with deep red or rusty tan usually on the feet, breeching, and cheek patches, above the eyes, and inside the ears

2

or Black-and-Tan dated, US politics : favoring or practicing proportional representation of Black and white people in politics compare lily-white sense 3

3

US, dated : frequented by both Black and white people

a black-and-tan bar

black and tan

2 of 2

noun

1

: a black-and-tan dog

2

: a drink consisting of a dark beer (such as stout or porter) and ale or beer of a paler color

3

Black and Tan [from the color of his uniform] : a recruit enlisted in England in 1920–21 for service in the Royal Irish Constabulary against the armed movement for Irish independence

Examples of black-and-tan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In the footage, a large black-and-tan Doberman Pincher is tethered to a rope attached to the Jeep's tow hitch and is seen flipping back and forth along the roadway in the video as the vehicle drives at high rate of speed and other cars zoom by. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 9 July 2025

The American Kennel Club said that Yorkie puppies are typically born with black-and-tan coats. —Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025

Noun

Two styles were previewed in black and tan, each with metallic gold eyelets and tongue co-brand in white. —Riley Jones, Footwear News, 5 July 2025

Those weapons included an AR-style pistol with an empty 60-round drum magazine, a Glock handgun and a black and tan AR-style pistol. —Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1786, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1840, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for black-and-tan

• businessman
• canavan
• caravan
• constantan
• dragoman
• fisherman
• handyman
• harmattan
• journeyman
• marianne
• middleman
• minivan