sallow

¹

[ sal-oh ]

adjective

, sal·low·er, sal·low·est.

1. of a sickly, yellowish or lightish brown color:

   sallow cheeks; a sallow complexion.

   Synonyms: jaundiced, bilious

verb (used with object)

1. to make sallow.

sallow

²

[ sal-oh ]

noun

, British.

1. any of several shrubby Old World willows, especially Salix atrocinerea or the pussy willow, S. caprea.

sallow

¹

/ ˈsæləʊ /

adjective

1. (esp of human skin) of an unhealthy pale or yellowish colour

verb

1. tr to make sallow

sallow

²

/ ˈsæləʊ /

noun

1. any of several small willow trees, esp the Eurasian Salix cinerea ( common sallow ), which has large catkins that appear before the leaves
2. a twig or the wood of any of these trees

Derived Forms

• ˈsallowness, noun
• ˈsallowish, adjective
• ˈsallowly, adverb
• ˈsallowy, adjective

Other Words From

• sallow·ish adjective
• sallow·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sallow¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English sal(o)we, Old English salo; cognate with Old Norse sǫlr “yellow”; compare French sale “dirty” (from Germanic )

Origin of sallow²

before 900; Middle English; Old English sealh; cognate with Old High German salaha, Latin salix

Word History and Origins

Origin of sallow¹

Old English salu; related to Old Norse sol seaweed (Icelandic sōlr yellowish), Old High German salo, French sale dirty

Origin of sallow²

Old English sealh; related to Old Norse selja, Old High German salaha, Middle Low German salwīde, Latin salix

Example Sentences

Lincoln would endure bout after bout of the hypos, until a permanent sadness settled onto his sallow face.

From The Daily Beast

Junkies have their own look (emaciated, haunted, sallow) and their own junk names: Doolie, Cash, and Dupré.

From The Daily Beast

This John is sickly and sallow, his body lacking plasticity.

From The Daily Beast

Again the sallow fingers began to play with the book-covers, passing from one to another, but always slowly and gently.

From Project Gutenberg

Now and then he touched one with his long and sallow fingers, lifted its cover, then let it drop mechanically.

From Project Gutenberg

After a few minutes he returned, and then his sallow countenance wore a smile.

From Project Gutenberg

She patted the sallow cheek of the American with her jewelled fingers, and turned aside, glancing about her.

From Project Gutenberg

Then, the sallow, black-haired knave who had last night proclaimed himself as Garnache in disguise was some impostor.

From Project Gutenberg