ecru

American  

[ek-roo, ey-kroo] / ˈɛk ru, ˈeɪ kru /

French écru

adjective

1. very light brown in color, as raw silk, unbleached linen, etc.

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noun

1. an ecru color.

ecru British  

/ ˈeɪkruː, ˈɛkruː /

noun

1. a greyish-yellow to a light greyish colour; the colour of unbleached linen

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adjective

1. of the colour ecru

Etymology

Origin of ecru

1865–70; < French, equivalent to é- completely (< Latin ex- ex- ¹ ) + cru raw (< Latin crūdus; see crude)

Explanation

If something is ecru, it's the beige color of sand. If you're looking for a neutral shade to paint your bedroom, you might try ecru. In French, écru means "raw or unbleached," from the Latin root crudus, "raw." The word was originally used to describe the color of unbleached linen, a very pale off-white, but over time ecru has come to mean a slightly darker beige shade, like a cup of milky tea, or even more of a gray-tinged brown or yellow. In general, if beige sounds boring, you can go with the more elegant word ecru.

Example Sentences

The rug is made of écru linen Java canvas, which, with the border, can be bought cheaply in any large fancy store.

From Harper's Young People, December 2, 1879 An Illustrated Weekly by Various

White, black, écru or colored net may be used.

From The Art of Modern Lace Making by The Butterick Publishing Co.

The wild silks are for the most part écru color, though some are pale green.

From Textiles For Commercial, Industrial, and Domestic Arts Schools; Also Adapted to Those Engaged in Wholesale and Retail Dry Goods, Wool, Cotton, and Dressmaker's Trades by Dooley, William H. (William Henry)

The tussah, or wild silks, remain an écru color.

From Textiles For Commercial, Industrial, and Domestic Arts Schools; Also Adapted to Those Engaged in Wholesale and Retail Dry Goods, Wool, Cotton, and Dressmaker's Trades by Dooley, William H. (William Henry)

A twin-soul in écru sat on a salmon-colored couch, while a twin-soul in myosotis blue reposed on a couch of the color of Australian gold.

From The Goddess of Atvatabar Being the history of the discovery of the interior world and conquest of Atvatabar by Bradshaw, William Richard