puce

[pyoos]

adjective

1. of a dark or brownish purple.

noun

1. a dark or brownish purple.

puce

/ pjuːs /

noun

1. 1. a colour varying from deep red to dark purplish-brown

   2. ( as adjective )

      a puce carpet

Word History and Origins

Origin of puce¹

1780–90; < French: literally, flea < Latin pūlic-, stem of pūlex

Word History and Origins

Origin of puce¹

C18: shortened from French couleur puce flea colour, from Latin pūlex flea

Example Sentences

The area around Kings Cross and Euston was bedecked in blue shirts, the odd kilt and a lot of puce flesh as Thursday dragged on.

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In the UK, the term “gammon” gained currency in the early 2010s as a pejorative apparently inspired by the puce skin tone of enraged, middle-aged middle Englanders.

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Vernon Dursley, whose mustache was quite as bushy as Dumbledore’s, though black, and who was wearing a puce dressing gown, was staring at the visitor as though he could not believe his tiny eyes.

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Lambert spent most of his time doing shuttle runs along the edge of the technical area, jawing in the ear of the fourth official, his face turning a curious shade of puce.

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The discrepancy is like the scene in The Wizard of Oz when the curtain is drawn away to reveal the wrinkly, puce old fool working the levers.

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Related Words

• cardinal 
• coral 
• crimson 
• flaming 
• glowing 
• maroon 
• rose 
• wine