day-glo
UK[ˈdeɪ ɡləʊ]US[ˈdeɪ ɡloʊ]
adj
Having an extremely bright, fluorescent color, especially orange, pink, or green.
n
A brand name for a type of fluorescent paint or color.
Morpheme Breakdown
day
glo
day
day
glo
glow
Etymology
The term 'Day-Glo' is a modern commercial compound, trademarked in the 1950s. It is formed by combining 'day', suggesting the vividness of daylight, with a shortened form of 'glow', implying a radiant, self-luminous quality. This combination was created to describe synthetic fluorescent pigments that appear to emit their own light, possessing a brilliance that rivals or exceeds natural daylight. The name effectively captures the core visual characteristic of the product: colors that are as intensely bright as a glowing object in full daylight.
Analysis
Structure: day (day) + glo (glow)
- day: From Old English 'dæg' (day, daylight). In this compound, it functions to imply the quality of daylight.
- glo: A clipping of the word 'glow'. From Old English 'glōwan' (to glow, shine). In this compound, it functions to imply a radiant, luminous quality.
Examples
The safety vests were a vivid day-glo orange, making the workers highly visible.
She painted the poster with day-glo colors to make it stand out under black light.
The 1980s fashion trend often featured day-glo leggings and accessories.