beige

[beyzh]

See more synonyms for beige on Thesaurus.com

noun

very light brown, as of undyed wool; light gray with a brownish tinge.

adjective

of the color beige.

Origin of beige

1855–60; < French; Old French bege, of uncertain origin

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for beige

tan, cream, taupe, khaki, camel, off-white, fawn, mushroom, neutral, oatmeal, ecru, buff, biscuit, sand

Examples from the Web for beige

Contemporary Examples of beige

Before the race, he had entered the grandstands waving his beige Stetson in the air, as if already on a victory lap.
Why California Chrome’s Fairy Tale Didn’t End Happily Ever After
Michael Fensom
June 8, 2014
He removed her beige Roger Vivier pumps and white lab coat to reveal a denuded ballerina-pink slip dress.
Tilda Swinton and Oliver Saillard Perform the Creation of Fashion in ‘Eternity Dress’
Sarah Moroz
November 21, 2013
In beige socks and black flip-flops, the man accused of bombing two U.S. embassies faced a judge in Manhattan.
Gripping His Koran, Anas al-Liby Has His Day in Court
Michael Daly
October 16, 2013
Dressed entirely in beige, working the A-1 cash register, it was clear that Walt no longer wanted to be Heisenberg.
Latest ‘Breaking Bad’ Episode, ‘Ozymandias,’ Is Most Action-Packed Yet
Andrew Romano
September 16, 2013
Her beige niqab (a conservative Islamic headdress that shows only the eyes) was stained from hours of crying.
The Morning After Egypt’s Rabaa Massacre
Sophia Jones
July 29, 2013

Historical Examples of beige

Her peignoir of beige, embroidered with red silk, was evidently of Parisian manufacture.
The Downfall
Emile Zola
In giving a brownish hue to such light colors as beige, ecru, etc., it is invaluable.
The Practical Ostrich Feather Dyer
Alexander Paul
She was daintily dressed in some sort of beige chiffon with pearls about her neck, and had easy, pleasant manners.
Diplomatic Days
Edith O'Shaughnessy
The riders converged on one of the straight cars, a beige mini-van, and crowded around it.
Makers
Cory Doctorow
Harry noticed she was wearing a beige knit suit with a neckline that spoke volumes.
The Observers
G. L. Vandenburg

British Dictionary definitions for beige

beige

noun

1. a very light brown, sometimes with a yellowish tinge, similar to the colour of undyed wool
2. (as adjective)beige gloves
a fabric made of undyed or unbleached wool

Word Origin for beige

C19: from Old French, of obscure origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for beige

1858, "fine woolen fabric," from dialectal French beige "yellowish-gray, brownish-gray," from Old French bege "the natural color of wool and cotton; raw, not dyed" (13c.), of obscure origin. "Das Wort lebt namentlich in der Bourgogne und Fr. Comté, daneben aber auch im Südwesten" [Gamillscheg]. As a shade of color, it is attested from 1879. As an adjective by 1879.