fabric colour of the day: isabelline
 

From another newsgroup...

From Michael Quinion this week:

"Isabelline refers to a colour. The dictionaries variously describe it
as greyish-yellow, light buff, pale cream-brown, dingy yellowish grey
or drab. The Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary tries hardest to
tie it down: „a moderate yellowish brown to light olive brown that is
lighter and stronger than clay drab or medal bronze‰. It has also been
described as the colour of parchment or sand."

"The female name Isabella can similarly refer to the colour. Its first
appearance in English is in an inventory of the wardrobe of Queen
Elizabeth I in 1600: „one rounde gowne of Isabella-colour satten ...
set with silver bangles‰. Versions of it are known in various European
languages from about the same date, including French, German, Spanish
and Italian, usually for the colour of a horse."

"The origin is unclear. That has led to stories growing up that
associate Isabella (and by implication isabelline) with an historical
event involving a noble lady by that name. One identifies her as
Isabella, Archduchess of Austria, daughter of Philip II of Spain. He
laid siege to Ostend in 1601 and in a moment of filial fervour
Isabella vowed not to change her undergarments until the city was
taken. Unfortunately for her (and no doubt for those around her) the
siege lasted another three years, supposedly leading to this
off-colour word for over-worn underwear."

http://www.worldwidewords.org/

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
e m a i l : j a c k @ c a m p i n . m e . u k
Jack Campin, 11 Third Street, Newtongrange, Midlothian EH22 4PU, Scotland
mobile 07800 739 557 http://www.campin.me.uk Twitter: JackCampin

fabric colour of the day: isabelline
 

"Jack Campin" wrote in message
...

From another newsgroup...

From Michael Quinion this week:

"Isabelline refers to a colour. The dictionaries variously describe it
as greyish-yellow, light buff, pale cream-brown, dingy yellowish grey
or drab. The Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary tries hardest to
tie it down: „a moderate yellowish brown to light olive brown that is
lighter and stronger than clay drab or medal bronze‰. It has also been
described as the colour of parchment or sand."

(clip)
"

laid siege to Ostend in 1601 and in a moment of filial fervour
Isabella vowed not to change her undergarments until the city was
taken. Unfortunately for her (and no doubt for those around her) the
siege lasted another three years, supposedly leading to this
off-colour word for over-worn underwear."

http://www.worldwidewords.org/

Interesting, but what led to this about this color?
Barbara in SC------puzzled



-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
e m a i l : j a c k @ c a m p i n . m e . u
k
Jack Campin, 11 Third Street, Newtongrange, Midlothian EH22 4PU,
Scotland
mobile 07800 739 557 http://www.campin.me.uk Twitter:
JackCampin


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