Vandyke brown

noun

: a natural brown-black pigment of organic matter obtained from bog earth or peat or lignite deposits
also : any of various synthetic brown pigments

Word History

Etymology

from its use by the painter vandyke

First Known Use

circa 1850, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Vandyke brown was circa 1850

Dictionary Entries Near Vandyke brown

Cite this Entry

“Vandyke brown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Vandyke%20brown. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!