Plumbeous
Adjective
- Of the dull gray color of lead.
Example Sentences
“The plumbeous facade of the building was dull against the cheery yellow of the daffodils planted in front of the entrance.”
“The artist used a monotone plumbeous palette to represent the dreariness and hardship he experienced in his youth.”
“The paint had worn away on the pipe, leaving the plumbeous metal finish.”
Word Origin
Latin, late 16th century
Why this word?
This one might surprise you — “plumbeous” is the dull gray color of lead and has nothing to do with plumbers. But the words for the color and the job actually are closely related. The Latin for “lead” is “plumbum,” and the first plumbers were those who worked with the material in general. The profession known for fixing leaky sinks and clogged drains is called “plumbing” because early piping was made out of lead. The word “plumber” eventually applied to those who worked with the pipes and fittings required for the water supply.
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