puce

Where does the word "puce" come from? It comes from Latin pulex, passing through French before entering English (1787).

Puce’s story begins in Latin: pulex meant “a flea.” A flea, describing a brownish-purple color like a flea's body. By 1700s, the word had taken hold in French as puce. Settled in French for the flea-brown color, said to have been Marie Antoinette's favorite. It reached English by 1787 as puce. French 'flea colour'; Marie Antoinette made it fashionable. Today, puce means a dark brownish-purple color.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient pulex "a flea", a flea, describing a brownish-purple color like a flea's body.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1700s puce "a brownish-purple color", settled in French for the flea-brown color, said to have been Marie Antoinette's favorite.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1787 puce "a dark brownish-purple color", French 'flea colour'; Marie Antoinette made it fashionable.