zircon blue, n. & adj.

zircon-blue
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zircon-blue_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2021

# zircon bluenoun & adjective

## Factsheet

### What does the word zircon blue mean?

There are two meanings listed in OED's entry for the word zircon blue. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

### Where does the word zircon blue come from?

Earliest known use

1920s

The earliest known use of the word zircon blue is in the 1920s.

OED's earliest evidence for zircon blue is from 1928, in the Chicago Tribune.

### Nearby entries

1. zip wire, n. 1971–
2. zir, pron. 1993–
3. zir, adj. 1993–
4. ziraleet, n. 1794–
5. ziram, n. 1950–
6. zirbal, adj.?a1425–
7. zirbus, n. a1400–
8. zircaloy, n. 1953–
9. zircon, n. 1794–
10. zirconate, n. 1820–
11. zircon blue, n. & adj.1928–
12. zircon earth, n. 1794–
13. zirconia, n. 1794–
14. zirconian, adj. 1802–
15. zirconic, adj. 1804–
16. zirconite, n. 1806–
17. zirconitic, adj. 1883–
18. zirconium, n. 1808–
19. zircon-like, adj. 1857–
20. zircono-, comb. form
21. zirconolite, n. 1957–

## Meaning & use

Mineralogy.

1. 1928–
   a. n. A light blue colour like that of some gem-quality zircon; a pigment of this colour b. adj. of this light-blue colour.
   1. 1928

      > Chiffon frocks... In Zircon blue, new wine and black. $97.50.

      Chicago Tribune 12 November 11/3 (advertisement)
   2. 1930

      > The smoldering light in her zircon blue eyes, and the straight, stormy line of her red mouth.

      Good Housekeeping (U.S. edition) January 30/1
   3. 2010

      > Find the perfect pallet for your personality by choosing from jasper red, zircon blue, ardoise slate, jade green and scapolite gray.

      Marketwire (Nexis) 20 April
   4. 2019

      > They are looking to speak to the driver of a zircon blue Jaguar in connection with the crash.

      Andover (Hampshire) Advertiser (Nexis) 27 December
   minerals
   1. watchet c1405–
      A light blue colour; cloth or garments of this colour.
   2. vessey colour 1562–73
      A light-blue or sky-blue colour.
   3. Turkey colour 1575–1880
      (a) Sky blue, azure (cf. Turkey blue n., turquoise, n. 3); (b) red (cf. Turkey red, n. a).
   4. fesse 1587–
      A pale blue colour.
   5. Venice blue 1598–
      (See quot.).
   6. powder blue 1752–
      Originally: the rich blue colour of smalt. Now chiefly: a soft pale shade of blue.
   7. Eton blue 1851–
      a. adj. Of a light shade of blue, or (formerly) greenish-blue, resembling that adopted as the colours of Eton College; b. n. a light shade of blue…
   8. ice-blue 1851–
      a. adj. That is of a very pale blue colour; b. n. this colour.
   9. periwinkle blue 1852–
      The purple-blue colour of the periwinkle flower.
   10. Cambridge blue 1858–
       A pale shade of blue, adopted as the colour of Cambridge University.
   11. baby blue 1861–
       a. n. A pale shade of blue; b. adj. of this colour.
   12. starch blue 1875–
       A pale shade of blue or greenish-blue.
   13. duck's egg 1876–
       The colour of the egg of a duck; used attributively. Frequently duck-egg blue, duck's egg blue.
   14. pervenche 1876–
       Chiefly U.S. A shade of light blue resembling the colour of periwinkle flowers. Cf. periwinkle, n.¹ 3b.
   15. opal blue 1881–
       An opal-blue colour.
   16. pervenche blue 1884–
       = pervenche, n. 2 (cf. periwinkle blue n. at periwinkle, n.¹ compounds 2).
   17. periwinkle 1895–
       A purple-blue colour like that of the periwinkle flower (sense 1). Cf. pervenche, n. 2.
   18. harebell blue 1909–
       attributive, as harebell blue.
   19. horizon-blue 1919–
       A light shade of blue, the colour of the uniform of the French Army during and after the war of 1914–18; such a uniform; also as adj.
   20. Nattier blue 1923–
       This shade of blue; a garment, etc., in this colour.
   21. zircon blue 1928–
       a. n. A light blue colour like that of some gem-quality zircon; a pigment of this colour b. adj. of this light-blue colour.
   22. Mary blue 1943–
       A light or medium blue colour.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

Originally published as part of the entry for zircon, n.

zircon, n. was revised in March 2021.