haswig-feðera, adj: having grey feathers, grey-feathered. (“has-wee-feh-theh-rah”)
An ibis. Bestiary. England, 1236-c. 1250. British Library, Harley MS 3244, fol. 52v.
haswig-feðera
Category Archives: Colours
scilfor
scilfor, adj: yellow, of the colour of gold. (“shil-vor”)
Confusingly, not silver.
Glossed Exodus. England, 1st quarter of the 13th century. British Library, MS Burney 13, fol. 1. Source: British Library.
blēo-rēad
blēo-rēad, adj: blue-red, purple, myrtle-coloured. (“bleh-oh-reh-ad”)
Detail of St Nicholas in the Melisende Psalter. Jerusalem, 1131-1143. British Library, Egerton MS 1139, fol. 209r. Source: British Library.
blæc
blæc, adj: black, dark, swarthy. (“black”)
Book of Hours, Bruges (Belgium), c. 1480. Morgan Library, MS M.493, folios 18v and 19r. The Black Hours, one of a very few manuscripts on vellum that is dyed black. The illustration shows Whitsun, or Pentecost, the occasion of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Christ, as described in Acts 2:1–31. Source: Morgan Library.
grēne
grēne, adj: green. (“greh-neh”)
Marginal dragon from image of St Catherine of Alexandria. Taddeo Crivelli. Italy, latter half of 15th century. Getty Museum, MS Ludwig IX 13, fol. 187v. Source: Getty Museum.
dun
dun, adj: dun, brown or black coloured, dark. (“doon”)
A marginal boar wearing spectacles, seated before distaff on stand, holding cord to spindle with right front foot. Book of Hours. Belgium, possibly Brussels, c. 1475. Morgan Library, MS M.485 fol. 165v. Source: Morgan Library.
hǣwen
hǣwen, adj: blue, azure, purple, discoloured. (“ha-wen”)
The Medieval Bestiary: “When cranes have to sleep, one of them stands guard with a stone clutched in a claw; if the guard falls asleep the stone will fall and wake him.” Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, fol. 62r. Source: The Medieval Bestiary.
hasu
hasu, adj: grey, ash-coloured, tawny. (“ha-soo”)
Marginal detail in Book of Hours. Belgium, c. 1470. Morgan Library, MS M.152 fol. 69r. Source: Morgan Library.
grǣg
grǣg, adj: grey. (“gray”)
A grey unicorn from the Luttrell Psalter. Manuscript made in Lincolnshire, England, between 1320-1340 for Sir Geoffrey Luttrell. British Library, Add. MS 42130, fol. 15r. Source: British Library.
gylden
gylden, adj: golden. (“yill-den”)
Evangéliaire. Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des Manuscrits, Latin 9453, fol. 45v. Source: gallica.bnf.fr.
