Naples yellow

noun

1. a poisonous pigment used in painting and enameling, consisting chiefly of lead antimoniate and characterized by its fugitive yellow color, rapid drying rate, and strong film-forming properties.

Naples yellow

noun

1. a yellow pigment, used by artists; lead antimonate
2. a similar pigment consisting of a mixture of zinc oxide with yellow colouring matter
3. the colour of either of these pigments

Word History and Origins

Origin of Naples yellow¹

1730–40; so called because originally manufactured in Naples, Italy