Feldgraus

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A gray or greenish-gray color specifically associated with German military uniforms during World War I and II
2. A muted hue used in the context of military attire, particularly linked to the uniforms of German soldiers
3. A shade of grayish-green historically significant for its association with military garments of Germany in the early 20th century

Etymology: Feldgrau is the German for "field-grey", and the plural form "feldgraus" is the one English speakers reach for when discussing more than one shade or more than one uniform of that colour. The plural is simply the German plural of the singular noun "feldgrau" (which itself is used as a colour name), so the word is a straightforward compound: "Feld" meaning "field" or open country, and "grau" meaning "grey". The picture is of a dull, dusty grey that blends into the ground on a battlefield. The colour was adopted by the German army in the early twentieth century as a replacement for the bright blue and red uniforms that made soldiers easy targets. Its appeal was purely practical: a muted shade that disappeared against earth, dust and mud. The name therefore describes a camouflage ideal rather than a fashion choice.