Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - brunet

 I. noun  or ~te  Date: circa 1539 a person having brown or black hair and often a relatively dark complexion — spelled ~ when used of a boy or man and usually ~te when used of a girl or woman  II. adjective  or ~te  Etymology: French ~, masculine, ~te, feminine, brownish, from Old French, from brun brown, from Medieval Latin brunus, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German brun brown  Date: 1709 of a dark brown or black color ~ hair; also having ~ hair a ~ woman — spelled ~ when used of a boy or man and usually ~te when used of a girl or woman