Solferino

[ sawl-fe-ree-naw sol-fuh-ree-noh ]

noun

1. a village in southeastern Lombardy, in northern Italy: battle 1859.
2. (lowercase) a dye obtained from rosaniline.
3. (lowercase) vivid purplish pink.

solferino

/ ˌsɒlfəˈriːnəʊ /

noun

1. 1. a moderate purplish-red colour
   2. ( as adjective )

      a solferino suit

Word History and Origins

Origin of Solferino¹

First recorded in 1865–70; dye so named from its being discovered after the battle of Solferino

Word History and Origins

Origin of Solferino¹

C19: from a dye discovered in 1859, the year a battle was fought at Solferino, a town in Italy

Example Sentences

The show is on view from Tuesday through June 10 at Via Solferino 11.

From New York Times

The opulent Left Bank townhouse known as “Solferino,” acquired in 1981, was always a bit awkward as the headquarters of a party that touted equality.

From Seattle Times

The Battle of Solferino might have been remembered simply for its carnage, but for the presence of Henry Dunant.

From The Guardian

In a dramatic scene, she throws some enviably strong youthful writings by Lila, who does not fulfill her own writerly talent, off the Solferino Bridge in Pisa into the Arno one November.

From New York Times

I stopped on the Solferino bridge to look at the lights filtered through a cold mist.

From The New Yorker