pink

pink¹

adjective

1》 of a colour intermediate between red and white, as of coral or salmon.

2》 informal, often derogatory left-wing.

3》 of or associated with homosexuals: the pink economy.

noun

1》 pink colour, pigment, or material.

    ↘(also hunting pink) the red clothing or material worn by fox-hunters.

2》 (the pink) informal the best condition or degree.

3》 informal, often derogatory a left-wing person.

Derivatives

pinkish adjective

pinkly adverb

pinkness noun

Origin

C17: from pink².

————————

pink²

noun a plant with sweet-smelling pink or white flowers and slender grey-green leaves. [Genus Dianthus.]

Origin

C16: perh. short for pink eye, lit. 'small or half-shut eye'.

————————

pink³

verb

1》 cut a scalloped or zigzag edge on.

2》 archaic decorate.

Origin

C16 (in the sense 'pierce or nick slightly'): cf. Low Ger. pinken 'strike, peck'.

————————

pink⁴

verb Brit. (of a vehicle engine) make rattling sounds as a result of over-rapid combustion of the fuel–air mixture in the cylinders.

Origin

early 20th cent.: imitative.

————————

pink⁵

noun historical a small square-rigged sailing ship with a narrow overhanging stern.

Origin

C15: from MDu. pin(c)ke, of unknown ultimate origin.

————————

pink⁶

noun dated a yellowish lake pigment made by combining vegetable colouring matter with a white base.

Origin

C17: of unknown origin.