nile blue

noun

Etymology: from Nile, river in Africa

1. often capitalized N : a light bluish green, greener and deeper than average aqua green (sense 1), bluer and paler than average turquoise green, and bluer and stronger than robin's-egg blue (sense 2)

2. or nile blue A usually capitalized N & sometimes capitalized B : an oxazine dye used chiefly in the form of the sulfate as a biological stain (as for staining neutral fat red in the presence of dilute sulfuric acid)

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pale greenish blue.

[1880-85]

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Nile blue /nīl bloo/

noun

A very pale greenish-blue colour

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Nile blue «nyl»,

a pale blue with a tinge of green.

╂[< the river Nile; patterned on French bleu de Nil]

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n. a pale greenish blue

Origin:

late 19th cent.: suggested by French eau de Nil