What is taupe?
Q: What is taupe?
A: Taupe is a dark grayish-brown color.
Q: Where does the name "taupe" come from?
A: The name "taupe" comes from the Latin name for the European Mole, Talpa europaea.
Q: Did the name "taupe" always refer to a specific shade of grayish-brown?
A: No, originally the name "taupe" referred only to the average color of the French mole, but it later expanded to encompass a wide range of varying shades.
Q: Why did the name "taupe" expand to encompass a wide range of shades?
A: The color of the fur of the mole can itself be a wide range of shades, from gray through yellowish, brownish, and even purplish.
Q: When was taupe first used as a color name in English?
A: The exact year is not known, but it was in the early 1800s.
Q: What are some other colors whose names have expanded over time?
A: Pink and lavender are other color names that have expanded to encompass a wider range of shades.
Q: What is the origin of the word "lavender"?
A: The word "lavender" comes from the Old French word "lavendre," which means "to wash."
