See. You asks a dozen Morris dancers and you gets a dozen (different) answers. And serves you right!
And as for that phoney Scotsman who cant even spell *Jock* correctly, if I see him ogling my misses any more I'll shove his dirk up his trossachs, so help me I will.
To be serious (oh, yes I can) the term *morris* is nothing more than a convenient word to group together all the differing styles and traditions of folk dance in the British Isles - styles which have nothing else in common whatsoever. The original dances/customs have been so corrupted by time, that they bear no relation to what was performed, when it was performed, or why it was performed. But it is damn good fun, and far too good for women, who should be at home tethered to the kitchen sink anyway!!!