Indian red

American  

noun

1. earth of a yellowish-red color, found especially in the Persian Gulf, that serves as a pigment and as a polish for gold and silver objects.

2. a pigment of that color prepared by oxidizing the salts of iron.

---

Indian red British  

noun

1. a red pigment containing ferric oxide, used in paints and cosmetics and produced by oxidizing iron salts

2. a type of red soil containing ferric oxide, found in S Asia and used as a pigment and metal polish

---

Etymology

Origin of Indian red

First recorded in 1745–55

Example Sentences

Two Indian red lines were soon tested: curbing support for north-eastern insurgents and protecting Hindu minorities.

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026

As many do, he likes to store it in a matka, an Indian red clay pot that is a water cooler.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 20, 2023

Under the name of Indian red it is used for polishing glass and silver.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary by Webster, Noah

A very eminent miniature painter recommends for hair tints, lamp black, Indian red, and burnt Sienna.

From Field's Chromatography or Treatise on Colours and Pigments as Used by Artists by Salter, Thomas

Or tatters of pale aster blue, descried By the roadside, Reveal whither they fled; Or the swamp maples, here and there a shred Of Indian red.

From Behind the Arras A Book of the Unseen by Meteyard, Thomas Buford