puce

[ pyoos ]

adjective

1. of a dark or brownish purple.

noun

1. a dark or brownish purple.

puce

/ pjuːs /

noun

1. 1. a colour varying from deep red to dark purplish-brown
   2. ( as adjective )

      a puce carpet

Word History and Origins

Origin of puce¹

1780–90; < French: literally, flea < Latin pūlic-, stem of pūlex

Word History and Origins

Origin of puce¹

C18: shortened from French couleur puce flea colour, from Latin pūlex flea

Example Sentences

The area around Kings Cross and Euston was bedecked in blue shirts, the odd kilt and a lot of puce flesh as Thursday dragged on.

From The Guardian

In the UK, the term “gammon” gained currency in the early 2010s as a pejorative apparently inspired by the puce skin tone of enraged, middle-aged middle Englanders.

From The Guardian

Vernon Dursley, whose mustache was quite as bushy as Dumbledore’s, though black, and who was wearing a puce dressing gown, was staring at the visitor as though he could not believe his tiny eyes.

From Literature

Lambert spent most of his time doing shuttle runs along the edge of the technical area, jawing in the ear of the fourth official, his face turning a curious shade of puce.

From The Guardian

The discrepancy is like the scene in The Wizard of Oz when the curtain is drawn away to reveal the wrinkly, puce old fool working the levers.

From The Guardian