pepper-and-salt

[ pep-er-uhn-sawlt ]

adjective

1. composed of a fine mixture of black with white:

   pepper-and-salt hair.

noun

1. an apparel fabric having a pepper-and-salt effect.
2. harbinger-of-spring ( def ).

pepper-and-salt

adjective

1. (of cloth) marked with a fine mixture of black and white
2. (of hair) streaked with grey

Word History and Origins

Origin of pepper-and-salt¹

First recorded in 1765–75

Example Sentences

Stuart climbed the bank, went into the bushes, and was back in a few minutes wearing a pepper-and-salt jacket, old striped trousers, a Windsor tie, and spectacles.

From Literature

Her hair was pepper-and-salt, and she smiled when she saw him look at her.

From Literature

Unfortunately some of these kings had had red hair, some black, some pepper-and-salt, while their growth of beard had been uneven.

From Literature

A wiry 60-year-old with pepper-and-salt hair, a wispy beard and an air of resignation, he muses: “I’ve been here 20 years, and it’s never been so tough.”

From Economist

Uncle Chat came out to greet them, a round, red-faced man with short side-whiskers, dressed in a pepper-and-salt suit.

From Project Gutenberg