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Naples yellow

American  

noun

  1. a poisonous pigment used in painting and enameling, consisting chiefly of lead antimoniate and characterized by its fugitive yellow color, rapid drying rate, and strong film-forming properties.


Naples yellow British  

noun

  1. a yellow pigment, used by artists; lead antimonate

  2. a similar pigment consisting of a mixture of zinc oxide with yellow colouring matter

  3. the colour of either of these pigments

"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

Etymology

Origin of Naples yellow

1730–40; so called because originally manufactured in Naples, Italy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

"Eee—yow!" he howled, brandishing a handful of Naples yellow mixed with coral which he hurled at the canvas.

From The Cruise of the Kawa by Chappell, George S. (George Shepard)

Of similar stability, it must not be employed with the true Naples yellow or antimoniate of lead, by which it is soon destroyed.

From Field's Chromatography or Treatise on Colours and Pigments as Used by Artists by Salter, Thomas

The dark sky is streaked with Naples yellow, and the pale colour serves to render distinct the three crosses planted upon Calvary in the extreme distance.

From Modern Painting by Moore, George (George Augustus)

The new Naples yellow presents an example of an old objectionable pigment being replaced by a different and superior preparation.

From Field's Chromatography or Treatise on Colours and Pigments as Used by Artists by Salter, Thomas

Those generally needed are silver white, Naples yellow, yellow ochre, brilliant yellow, vermilion, Prussian blue, raw sienna, ivory black, carmine, yellow lake, vandyke brown.

From Young's Demonstrative Translation of Scientific Secrets by Young, Daniel

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