rouge

Where does the word "rouge" come from? It comes from Latin rubeus, passing through French before entering English (1750s).

Rouge’s story begins in Latin: rubeus meant “red.” Red, the root of the French word for the color. By medieval, the word had taken hold in French as rouge. Settled in French as the standard word for the color red. It reached English by 1750s as rouge. Narrowed in English to mean a reddish cosmetic for the cheeks. Today, rouge means a red or pink cosmetic applied to the cheeks.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient rubeus "red", red, the root of the French word for the color.
2. Stage 2 · French · medieval rouge "red", settled in French as the standard word for the color red.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1750s rouge "a reddish cosmetic for the cheeks", narrowed in English to mean a reddish cosmetic for the cheeks.