Pinkish

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈpɪŋkɪʃ/

Definitions

1. Having a light pink color or tint; somewhat pink in appearance
2. Exhibiting a hue that is reminiscent of light pink or a faded version of pink
3. Displaying characteristics of a pale pink shade or an unclear pink tone

Etymology: "Pinkish" is a straightforward formation: the adjective "pink" with the suffix "-ish" attached. The suffix comes from Old English "-isc," which carried the sense "of the nature of" or "somewhat like," and it passed through Middle English "-isch" into the modern "-ish." The same ending appears in words like "childish" and "reddish," so it has long been the English way of saying "somewhat" or "inclined toward" a quality. The base word "pink" is less simple than it looks. It is traced to Dutch "pienk" and Middle Dutch "pinken," and it entered English as a name for the flower, the pink, before it became a colour word. The flower's petals have a notched, pinked edge, which may be why the plant gave its name to the colour, though the connection is not firmly established.

Synonyms: rosy, blush, reddish

Antonyms: pale, colorless