mauve

Where does the word "mauve" come from? It comes from Latin malva, passing through French before entering English (1859).

Mauve’s story begins in Latin: malva meant “the mallow plant.” The mallow plant, whose flowers gave their name to a pale purple color. By 1800s, the word had taken hold in French as mauve. Carried into French for the pale purple color of the mallow flower. It reached English by 1859 as mauve. Popularized in English after the invention of the first synthetic dye of this shade. Today, mauve means a pale purple color.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient malva "the mallow plant", the mallow plant, whose flowers gave their name to a pale purple color.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1800s mauve "a pale purple color", carried into French for the pale purple color of the mallow flower.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1859 mauve "a pale purple color", popularized in English after the invention of the first synthetic dye of this shade.