Puce facts for kids
| This box shows the colour puce. |
|---|
Puce is a unique color that looks like a mix of gray, red, and violet. Imagine a reddish-purple shade with a touch of gray or brown – that's often what puce looks like! It's a color that can be light or dark, and it often has a soft, muted feel.
For example, some dried plums from China, which are a popular snack, can be described as puce.
Where Did the Name Puce Come From?
The name "puce" comes from the French word puce, which means "flea". That's right, a tiny jumping insect!
There are a few ideas about how this color got its name:
- Some people believe it's the color of a flea that has been squashed, or the color of a flea that is full of blood.
- Others think it might be the color of a flea's droppings. These droppings are digested blood, and they can make a deep red stain when they get wet.
- Another idea is that the name refers to the color of a flea's belly.
Interestingly, the French word puce can also refer to the blue-lavender color of a flower called Pennyroyal. This plant has a strong smell and was sometimes used to keep fleas away. So, the color name might also be linked to this flower.
The word "puce" started being used in the English language around 1787. However, it was first used as a color name in French much earlier, in the 14th century.
Related pages
