More color confusion (UNCLASSIFIED)

[Mullins, Bill AMRDEC]

Classification:  UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

I may have mentioned this here before.  I, like most guys I know,
believe that 90% of
colors encountered are either red, blue, green or beige, and can be
described with those words
plus the modifiers "light", "dark", and "kinda".

(You'll note I left black off the list.  No need for it.  That suit
isn't black, it's
just dark blue.  Whadda ya mean it's black?  Stand over in that light
over there.  See?)

My wife, on the other hand, has about thirty words for green.  Some
things are taupe
(which, like "whomever", is a made up word designed to catch you in
error).  Also mauve
(which may be the same as taupe, for all I know).

When we painted our hallway, we had to get color samples.  I now realize
the many "colors"
that exist are just a ruse by Sherwin Williams.




>
>
> My wife says the color "topaz" is a dark yellow, and OED
> shows she's right.  The color name has been in use for at
> least a century.
>
>   However, when she recently ordered a fashion item in
> "topaz" from a well-known catalogue, the item was a light
> blue, very close to turquoise.  But "turquoise" was an
> alternative color choice in that very same catalogue!
>
>   Customer relations patiently explained that "topaz" really
> is light blue but no green as turquoise.  Proof?  The
> manufacturer has indeed designated the light-blue color as "topaz."
>   And the OED definition, which was read to them, counts for
> nada. So: credit but no free return shipping.
>
>   As a guy, I don't know "topaz."  It's a kinda rock, isn't
> it?  Could be any color. Probably gray.
>
>   JL
>
Classification:  UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

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