42 A DICTIONARY OF COLOUR
c bird’s-egg green
A pale green or bluish green. See ooxanthine.
a birdseye
A textured effect in fabric created by weaving a mixture of white and coloured
thread producing tiny white dots (or birdseyes) in the fabric.
n birthstone colours
There are many different lists of modern and traditional birthstones and their
corresponding colours most of which refer to the calendar months rather than
to the star signs. Both the American National Association of Jewelers and the
National Association of Goldsmiths in Great Britain and Ireland have promoted
their own lists. The following is an amalgam of a number of lists:
deep dark red January garnet or rose quartz
purple or lavender February amethyst or onyx
pale blue March aquamarine or bloodstone
clear or no colour April diamond or rock-crystal
dark bright green May emerald or chrysoprase
cream or lavender June pearl or moonstone or alexandrite
red July ruby, cornelian, (carnelian) or onyx
pale green August peridot or sardonyx
deep blue September sapphire or lapis lazuli
variegated, pink, or rose October opal or tourmaline
yellow or gold November topaz or citrine
sky blue or turquoise December zircon, turquoise or blue topaz.
c biscuit
The light brown colour of a biscuit; hence ‘biscuit-coloured’. From the Italian
biscotto, ‘twice-cooked’. First recorded as a colour in 1884. Also describing pottery
after first being fired and prior to its decoration.
c Bismarck
A leather-brown colour.
c Bismarck brown
A brown dye also known as phenylene brown, Manchester brown and vesuvin.
Used as a stain for histological purposes.
n bismuth chromate
An orange-red powder used as a pigment in paint.