ponceau

[prettygoodword]

ponceau (pon-SOH) - n., a vivid red to reddish-orange color. adj., having this color.


The color, specifically, of the corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas). Also, sometimes specifically, the generic name for a family of azo dyes, including a couple food coloring and histology stains. Name is from the French name for the corn poppy, origin uncertain but there's speculation that it might be a diminutive of paon (from Latin pāvōn-, stem of pāvō), peacock.

---L.

Comments

[movingfinger.livejournal.com]

Connection to "ponce"---sense of tall poppy, peacock...?

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

General speculation is that ponce is more likely from pounce, with the sense of the swoopiness that involves.