lateritious

American  

[lat-uh-rish-uhs] / ˌlæt əˈrɪʃ əs /

Or latericeous

adjective

1. of the color of brick; brick-red.

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Etymology

Origin of lateritious

First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin laterīcius “made of brick,” equivalent to later “brick” + -īcius adjective suffix denoting materials; see -itious

Explanation

The word lateritious describes things that are the color of red brick. The brick cap mushroom has a lateritious cap of a muted, orange-red that resembles the color of a kiln-fired brick. The word lateritious is derived from the Latin later, meaning "brick." It is most commonly used in fields like botany, medicine, and zoology. It could describe the color of leaves or other plant parts. In historical medical texts, you might see a "lateritious sediment" used in historical medical texts, referring to dusty-red deposits in bodily fluids. And zoologists might describe the dull, brownish-red hue of an animal's feathers or scales as being lateritious. An author might describe the "lateritious hue" of a desert sunset.

Example Sentences

With the fall of the temperature it rapidly increases in quantity, and is very apt to let fall a copious lateritious sediment on cooling.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various