scarlet

[skahr-lit]

noun

1. a bright-red color inclining toward orange.

2. cloth or clothing of this color.

adjective

1. of the color scarlet.

2. flagrantly offensive.

   Their sins were scarlet.

scarlet

/ ˈskɑːlɪt /

noun

1. a vivid red colour, sometimes with an orange tinge

2. cloth or clothing of this colour

adjective

1. of the colour scarlet

2. sinful or immoral, esp unchaste

Word History and Origins

Origin of scarlet¹

1200–50; Middle English < Old French escarlate < Medieval Latin scarlata, scarletum, perhaps < Arabic saqirlāṭ, siqillāṭ < Medieval Greek sigillátos < Latin sigillātus decorated with patterns in relief; sigillate

Word History and Origins

Origin of scarlet¹

C13: from Old French escarlate fine cloth, of unknown origin

Example Sentences

He was socially awkward and expelled from school for poor grades - his work badly affected by a bout of scarlet fever.

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Smith, who was born in 1946, was often bed-ridden as a young girl, afflicted with tuberculosis and scarlet fever, along with all the usual childhood ailments.

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A dense, scarlet mound of tomato in the center.

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With a swan's feather in his cap and wearing a scarlet jacket, Mr Barber also spoke of the other risks to swans nesting on the Thames.

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His outsider status as a hunchback is instead a costume that presumably serves as scarlet letter or Star of David.

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Related Words

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