eggshell
UK[ˈɛɡʃɛl]US[ˈɛɡˌʃɛl]
n
The hard, brittle outer covering of an egg.
n
A pale yellowish-white color.
adj
(of a paint finish) Having a slight sheen, between matte and gloss.
Morpheme Breakdown
egg
shell
egg
shell
Etymology
The word 'eggshell' is a transparent compound formed from two native English words. 'Egg' derives from Old Norse 'egg', which supplanted the Old English 'æg', both from Proto-Germanic ajją, ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root ōwyóm, meaning "egg." 'Shell' comes from Old English 'scell', related to 'scealu' (husk, pod), from Proto-Germanic skaljō, meaning "a dividing or separating." This root is linked to the PIE skel- "to cut." The compound 'eggshell' thus literally names the "shell of an egg," a meaning that has remained constant. Its use to describe a color and a specific paint texture are metaphorical extensions based on the characteristic color and delicate, semi-glossy texture of a typical eggshell.
Analysis
Structure: egg + shell
egg: (Old English) The noun for the reproductive body laid by birds and some other animals.
shell: (Old English) The noun for a hard, protective outer layer.
Examples
The child carefully painted the delicate eggshell.
The walls were painted in a soothing eggshell white.
This paint provides a durable, washable eggshell finish.