adj
sallow
Sallow (adj) means Pale in an unhealthy-looking way.
adj
1
Pale in an unhealthy-looking way.
"For more than a century after the scandal of 1865, artists and historians wrestled with Olympia’s sallow skin, the bracelet on her right forearm, the orchid in her upswept red hair."
— Jason Farago, The 19th Century’s Most Scandalous Painting Comes to New York (2023)
2
Of a tan colour, associated with people from southern Europe or East Asia.
"She had such lovely sallow skin, the handsome high cheekbones of the north with the brown conker-colour eyes and the dark silken hair."
— Billy Keane, I feel so much for Mickey. Maybe there is peace for him in sport (2012)
3
Describes skin, especially on the face, that looks pale and unwell.
4
Having a similar dull, yellowish shade.
"Now a sallow night-light glowed from the table and heaped large shadows on the beds and up the walls."
— Alan Hollinghurst, The Stranger’s Child (2011)
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Etymology
From Middle English salowe, from Old English salu, from Proto-West Germanic *salu, from Proto-Germanic *salwaz, from Proto-Indo-European *selH-. See also Dutch zaluw, dialectal German sal; also Irish salach (“dirty”), Welsh halog, Latin salīva, Russian соло́вый (solóvyj, “cream-colored”), and - through Frankish - French sale.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for sallow
See all rhymes for sallow →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of sallow?
"sallow" (adj) means pale in an unhealthy-looking way.
What is another word for sallow?
Other words for "sallow" include sickly.
What is the opposite of sallow?
The opposite of "sallow" is healthy.
What are the different meanings of sallow?
"sallow" has 3 main meanings: 1. Pale in an unhealthy-looking way; 2. Of a tan colour, associated with people from southern Europe or East Asia; 3. Describes skin, especially on the face, that looks pale and unwell.
