Colour
/ˈkʌl.ə/noun
The visual property of objects produced by the way they reflect or emit light.
Did you know?Colour’s distant linguistic family may connect it with Latin words meaning “hidden” or “covered,” echoing the idea that appearance can conceal reality.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kel-
“To cover, conceal, or hide; a proposed ancestral root connected with the idea of something being hidden from view.”
Classical Latin
Latin
color
“Colour, appearance, complexion, or outward aspect.”
Late Latin
Latin
colorem
“The accusative form meaning colour, appearance, or complexion; it became the source of the Romance forms.”
12th Century
Old French
colour
“Colour or appearance; the spelling reflects the Latin-derived French form.”
Middle English
English
colour
“Colour, complexion, outward appearance, or a symbolic banner.”
Modern English
English
colour
“The visual quality produced by light, with “colour” remaining the standard British spelling and “color” the usual American spelling.”