russet
UK[ˈrʌsɪt]US[ˈrʌsɪt]
adj
of a reddish-brown color
n
a reddish-brown color
n
a coarse homespun cloth, usually of a russet color
Etymology
the word "russet" entered english in the late 13th century from the anglo-norman "russet," meaning a reddish or grayish cloth. this term itself derived from the old french "rousset," a diminutive of "rous," meaning "red," which has its ultimate origin in the latin "russus," meaning "reddish." the color association evolved from describing the coarse, homespun cloth typically worn by peasants, which was often dyed with woad and madder to produce a reddish-brown hue, to denoting the color itself. this journey from a specific type of cloth to a general color term illustrates a common path of semantic specialization and subsequent generalization.
Analysis
the word is a simplex form derived from an anglo-norman term. it is not productively composed of separable morphemes in modern english.
Examples
the hills were covered in the russet tones of autumn leaves.
he wore a jacket made of simple russet.
the apples had a crisp texture and a russet skin.