Sallow

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈsæləʊ/
• Rhymes: -æləʊ

From Middle English salowe, from Old English salu, from Proto-Germanic *salwaz (compare Dutch zaluw, dialectal German sal), from Proto-Indo-European *solH- (compare Welsh halog, Latin salīva, Russian соловый (solóvyj, "cream-colored")).

Full definition of sallow

Adjective

1. (skin colour) yellowish
1. (most regions, of Caucasian skin) of a sickly pale colour
2. (Ireland) of a tan colour, associated with people from southern Europe or East Asia:
• 2007 David McWilliams "We must begin the culture debate" 23 December 2007:The girls are mostly Slavic-pretty, long-limbed with high cheekbones, sallow skin and green eyes. They are the closest thing to supermodels that Mulhuddart has ever seen.
• 2012 Aisling, "Am I pink or yellow? How to choose the right foundation tone. And what is the deal with Mac foundations?" beaut.ie (17 January 2012):A yellow undertone is often found on people with sallow skin – e.g. Asian.
• 2012 Billy Keane, "I feel so much for Mickey. Maybe there is peace for him in sport" Irish Independent (13 June 2012):She had such lovely sallow skin, the handsome high cheekbones of the north with the brown conker-colour eyes and the dark silken hair.
2. Dirty; murky.

From Middle English salwe, from Old English sealh, from Proto-Germanic *salhaz, masculine variant of *salhō, *salhjōn (compare Low German Sal, Saal; Swedish sälg), from Proto-Indo-European *sh₂lk-, *sh₂lik- (compare Welsh helyg, Latin salix), probably originally a borrowing from some other language.

Noun

1. A European willow, Salix caprea, that has broad leaves, large catkins and tough wood.
• 1819, Keats, To Autumn:Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mournAmong the river sallows, borne aloftOr sinking as the light wind lives or dies;
2. Willow twigs.
• FawkesBend the pliant sallow to a shield.
• EmersonThe sallow knows the basketmaker's thumb.

Derived terms

• grey sallow
• sallow flute

Anagrams

• allows