Brown

Brown

Brown is a color term, denoting a range of composite colors produced by a mixture of orange, red, rose, or yellow with black or gray. The term is from Old English brún, in origin for any dusky or dark shade of color. The first recorded use of brown as a color name in English was in 1000. The Common Germanic adjective *brûnoz, *brûnâ meant both dark colors and a glistening or shining quality, whence burnish. The current meaning developed in Middle English from the 14th century.

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Famous quotes containing the word brown:

    When Titian was mixing brown madder,
    His model was posed up a ladder.
    Said Titian, “That position
    Calls for coition,”
    So he lept up the ladder and had her.
    Anonymous.

    My ole man died—hunh—
    Cussin’ me;
    Ole lady rocks, bebby,
    Huh misery.
    —Sterling Allen Brown (b. 1901)

    They dragged you from homeland,
    They chained you in coffles,
    They huddled you spoon-fashion in filthy hatches,
    They sold you to give a few gentlemen ease.
    —Sterling Allen Brown (b. 1901)