Grisel

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. An archaic term for something that is grey in colour, especially hair or fur that has turned silvery with age
2. Obsolete English word meaning grey, used of a colour that lies between black and white
3. A rare, old-fashioned adjective describing a grizzled or greyish appearance, seen in early English writing

Etymology: Grisel comes from Old French "gris," meaning grey, which in turn was borrowed from a Frankish word related to the Germanic root behind English "grey." The French form added the diminutive ending, so "grisel" meant something like greyish, and in English it was used mainly for grey hair and grey colouring. Its look-alike "grisly" is a different word. That comes from Old English "grislic," meaning horrible or terrifying, so the resemblance is coincidental.

Synonyms: grizzled, grey

Antonyms: black