ˈmouse-colour, n. (a.)
1. A colour resembling that of the common mouse; a dark grey with a yellowish tinge.
| 1606 Jrnls. Ho. Comm. I. 309/1 A strange Spanyell, of Mouse-colour, came into the House. 1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) XVIII. 648/1 The fur is of a mouse-colour, tinged with reddish. 1903 ‘Marjoribanks’ Fluff-Hunters 65 Her hair was of that subtle half-shade known as mouse-colour. |
2. attrib. passing into adj. Mouse-coloured.
| 1716 Lond. Gaz. No. 5481/4 Lost.., a Mouse-Colour Mare. 1728–9 Mrs. Delany in Life & Corr. (1861) I. 193 The Prince of Wales was in mouse-colour velvet. 1828 Stark Elem. Nat. Hist. I. 120 Fur mouse-colour. |
So mouse-coloured a.
| 1687 Lond. Gaz. No. 2307/4 Lost..a little Greyhound,..her Ears Mouse-coloured,..and several Mouse-coloured spots on her Body. 1861 F. Metcalfe Oxonian in Icel. ix. (1867) 129 The mouse-coloured horse which I am riding is crossed..with black streaks. 1900 Daily News 10 Feb. 6/3 The rest of the dress was mouse-coloured cloth. |