Morris

n. [Fr. moresque, It. moresca. See MORISCO.]

1. A dance in imitation of the Moors, as sarabands, chacons, &c., usually performed with castanets or rattles held in the hands, by a single person, in connection with entertainments like puppet-shows, &c.; — more properly called morisco. Strutt.
2. A dance formerly common in England, sometimes performed by itself, but more frequently joined with pageants and processions, especially those appropriate to the celebration of May-games. On these occasions, the hobby-horse, or a dragon, with Robin Hood, Maid Marian, and other fictitious characters, were personified as part of the dance. The garments of the morris-dancers were adorned with bells, ribbons, &c. Strutt.
3. A game played on a board having marked on it three concentric squares, with lines drawn from the angles of the outer one to those of the inner, and also lines from the middle of each side of the outer square to that of the inner; at the angles and intersections black spots were made, to indicate where the pieces or men should be laid.

The game is played by two persons with nine pieces each, and hence is called nine-men's morris. The pieces are placed alternately, by each player, on the spots, and each player endeavors to prevent his opponent from placing three pieces in a row without the intervention of a piece belonging to the other. Should either succeed in so doing, he may take up one of his opponent's pieces, and he who takes off all of his opponent's pieces wins the game. When a board is not at hand, the figures are sometimes drawn on the ground, with holes for the spots. Strutt. “The nine-men's morris is filled up with mud.” Shak.