Definition of sallow
: any of several Old World broad-leaved willows (such as Salix caprea) including important sources of charcoal and tanbark
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sallow was our Word of the Day on 03/26/2014. Hear the podcast!
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Origin and Etymology of sallow
Middle English, from Old English sealh; akin to Old High German salha sallow, Latin salix willow
NEW! Time Traveler
First Known Use: before 12th century
in the meaning defined above
See Words from the same yearDefinition of sallow
: of a grayish greenish yellow color
Examples of sallow in a Sentence
he was still a bit sallow after a week spent in bed with the flu
Recent Examples of sallow from the Web
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At death’s door, Grey’s saved by a complete artificial overhaul, including the smartbug critter invented by the tech genius with the sallow complexion (Harrison Gilbertson, on what might be termed a Jared Leto summer internship).
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Packer erases and etches into her father’s bare, sallow skin, making it worn and ravaged.
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The lavender shade in L'Oréal Paris Cosmetics Infallible Total Cover Color Correcting Kit helps rid your skin of that not-so-cute sallow look.
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Kahn dispensed with the classic library layout: a central reading room with rows of desks and sallow lamp light.
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The lavender shade in L'Oréal Paris Cosmetics Infallible Total Cover Color Correcting Kit helps rid your skin of that not-so-cute sallow look.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sallow.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
There is no hint of sickliness in the etymology of sallow. The word appears in Old English as salu or salo, and could mean "dusky" or "dark" or "grayish greenish yellow." Salu (or salo) is akin to Old English sōl ("dark, dirty"), Old High German salo ("murky, dirty gray"), Old Norse sölr ("dirty"), and even Sanskrit sāra or sāla, which carries the basic meaning of "dirty gray." Sallow, however, has for much of its history been used specifically to describe the skin or complexion of one who is unwell.
Origin and Etymology of sallow
Middle English salowe, from Old English salu; akin to Old High German salo murky, Russian solovyĭ yellowish gray
NEW! Time Traveler
First Known Use: before 12th century
in the meaning defined above
See Words from the same yearSALLOW Defined for English Language Learners
sallow
Definition of sallow for English Language Learners
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: slightly yellow in a way that does not look healthy
SALLOW Defined for Kids
Definition of sallow for Students
: slightly yellow in a way that does not look healthy
- His hair was short and wild …, his face starved and sallow with grief.
- —Louise Erdrich, The Birchbark House
Learn More about sallow
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See words that rhyme with sallow Spanish Central: Translation of sallow Nglish: Translation of sallow for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of sallow for Arabic speakers
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