>--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > >I believe magenta was one of the aniline dyes invented in the later 19th >century and >was named after a battle in Napoleon III's reign - but I assume >the poster was >referring to a natural colour approaching that shade. > >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 15/03/2006 21:49 >>> > >I always thought that magenta was named after a battle in the >Napoleonic wars but I could be way wrong! > >Suzi
I found this: magenta adj : deep purplish red n 1: a dark purple-red; the dye was discovered in 1859, the year of the battle of Magenta [syn: fuchsia] 2: a battle in 1859 in which the French and Sardinian forces under Napoleon III defeated the Austrians under Francis Joseph I [syn: Magenta, Battle of Magenta] Source: WordNet ® 2.0, © 2003 Princeton University And this is just interesting: Main Entry: fuch·sin Variant: or fuch·sine /'fyük-s&n, -"sEn/ Function: noun : a dye that is produced by oxidation of a mixture of aniline and toluidines, that yields a brilliant bluish red, and that is used in carbolfuchsin paint, in Schiff's reagent, and as a biological stain Fuchs /'fuks/, Leonhard (1501–1566), German botanist and physician. In 1542 Fuchs published De Historia Stirpium, a manual of herbal plants that stands as a landmark in botany. The work is historically important for its orderly presentation, accurate drawings and precise plant descriptions, and its glossary of botanical terms. Fuchs was especially interested in the medicinal properties of plants, and his book listed the reputed powers of each. The genus Fuchsia was named in his honor by Linnaeus in 1753. Fuchsia also denotes the vivid reddish purple color of the flowers of many plants belonging to the genus. Source: Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc. I love this list - it leads me to look up so many interesting things - I had no idea before this that the colour was named after a Napoleonic battle. Joannah. ~*~ Practice random acts of kindness, and senseless acts of beauty. ~*~ _____________________________________________________________ Sluggy.Net: The Sluggy Freelance Community! _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
