Celadon
/ˈsɛl.ə.dɒn/noun
A pale grayish-green color, especially one associated with glazed pottery.
Did you know?Celadon entered English through French as the name of a character in a 17th-century romance, and only later became the word for the famous greenish glaze on Chinese ceramics.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Σέλας / sélas
“Brightness, gleam, or shining light”
Late Latin
Latin
celare
“To hide or conceal”
17th Century
French
Céladon
“A pastoral lover character in literature, associated with pale green ribbons and costume”
18th Century
English
celadon
“A pale green color or greenish ceramic glaze”
Explore more surprising origins