navy-blue
Meaning
of a dark blue colour, like that of a naval officer's uniform
a dark blue colour
Structure
Usage
She wore a smart navy-blue blazer to the interview.
The company's logo is printed in navy-blue.
He preferred the navy-blue sweater over the lighter one.
Etymology
The term 'navy-blue' is a compound adjective formed in the mid-19th century. The first element, 'navy', directly references the dark blue color historically adopted for the uniforms of the British Royal Navy, beginning in 1748. The second element, 'blue', is the generic color term of Germanic origin. The compound's logic is transparent: it specifies a particular shade of blue by associating it with a well-known institution. This naming convention exemplifies how institutional practices can standardize and name a specific hue within a broader color spectrum.
Analysis
- navy: From Old French 'navie' (fleet), from Latin 'navigia' (ships), from 'navis' (ship). Functions as a noun used attributively to modify the color. - blue: From Old French 'bleu', of Germanic origin. Functions as the core adjective/noun denoting the color.