Wondrous Words: Colours!
I ran across this week’s words while reading the latest installment in Julie Mulhern’s Country Club Murders, Clouds in My Coffee. The protagonist, Ellison Russell, is an artist living in 1974 Kansas City, Missouri.
The world around us faded like a watercolor painting left in the rain. The soot, the brilliant leaves–burnt umber, orange-red, gamboge, and the Tyrian purple of the now-trampled pansies in my hosta beds dimmed.
gamboge: a gum resin from various Asian trees of the genus Garcinia, used as a yellow pigment; yellow or yellow-orange.
From New Latin gambog-, variant of cambog-, after Cambodia
Tyrian purple: a crimson or purple dye obtained by the ancient Phoenicians from gastropod mollusks (sea snails); also known as Tyrian red, royal purple, imperial purple.
Phoenicia, which roughly corresponded to modern-day Lebanon, was noted for its Tyrian purple dye, named after the city of Tyre, a maritime city of ancient Phoenicia. Tyrian purple was the most precious dye of its time, in large part because of the labor required to produce it.
Wondrous Words Wednesday is a weekly meme where you can share new words that you’ve encountered or spotlight words you love. It’s hosted by Kathy at Bermuda Onion. Hop on over and see what wondrous words other bloggers have discovered this week.
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I’m not good with the subtleties of colors so I’m glad you included examples. I’ve heard of Tyrian purple but gamboge is completely new to me.
I’m glad the examples helped, Kathy. I think they make a pretty post as well 😉
I’m glad you joined the game today. Those are completely new to me too. My artistic senses are very primitive. I’m at the 32-crayon box level. However, I do like looking at the creative names they give colors.
Margot, I love the creative names, too. For some reason, getting gamboge from Cambodia (where the tree grows) tickled me.
Welcome to Exurbanis!
Interesting and pretty colors.
Thanks for dropping by Exurbanis, Mary Ann!
I love the words, and the colors! I’ve always been so fond of burnt umber.
I thought the colours made an attractive post, too, Nan.
Hi Debbie,
Thanks for stopping by Fiction Books for the first time, this week. I enjoy ‘meeting’ new people and always look forward to receiving comments 🙂
I am not really a very ‘arty’ person, although I have always aspired to be even a little talented.
Also, I don’t tend to wear, or decorate my home, with very bright or vibrant colours.
I did however, know of the colour gamboge, although not the explanation of its history. Tyrian purple is a colour I shall have to remember for the next time I meet my SIL, as her home and just about everything she buys, including all her clothes, is purple!
A lovely post, thanks for sharing 🙂
Yvonne
Welcome to Exurbanis, Yvonne. I, too, enjoy meeting people from around the world.
If I’d ever run across the word ‘gamboge’ before, I’ve forgotten. I did know Tyrian purple, but the history has always fascinated me and I thought others might find it interesting.
Interesting, about your SIL. When I was a teenager I did the same thing. I don’t decorate at all with purple now, although I do think it’s a lovely colour.