There are hundreds of color words in English and most of them were named for something that typically has that color. Examples: orange, violet, pink, copper, salmon, turquoise, olive, chocolate. There are many, many more. This thread is not about them, but rather the minority of color words that are NOT named for something. Or at least if they were, it was in a different language or so far into the past that, today, the color word just stands for the color and not also for the thing the name came from.
So I did some thinking and came up with a starter list. I’m looking for additions, of course.
I also came up with a couple restrictions. First, it has to be a single word and not a compound, such as blue-green, bloodred, or kelly green. Second, it has to be a general use color word, not one with restricted use. So hazel and blond(e) are out as are most, if not all, the heraldic tinctures (more on this anon).
Here’s the list:
- black
- blue
- brown
- crimson
- cyan
- gray/grey
- green
- maroon
- purple
- red
- scarlet
- white
- yellow
Now purple is an edge case. It derives from purpura but has moved on from that origin. I decided to include it, but I can see the argument against that.
An edge case that I didn’t include is azure. It’s a heraldic tincture, but has moved beyond that narrow niche. However, I’m not sure it’s ever used to describe anything except the sky or the sea. Which would still leave it as a non-general use color word. But perhaps I’m wrong.
So any additions?