sallow
sallow Lexical Profile
sallow Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Having an unhealthy, pale, yellowish, or brownish complexion (especially of a person's skin or face).
"After weeks of recovering indoors from the flu, his usually ruddy cheeks looked drawn and sallow."
• noun
Any of several European shrubby willow trees of the genus Salix (especially the goat willow, Salix caprea) that have broad leaves rather than narrow ones and produce prominent silky catkins.
"Low-growing sallows lined the marshy banks of the stream, their fuzzy catkins emerging in early spring."
Any of various autumnal noctuid moths of the family Noctuidae that have yellowish or orange-brown forewings and whose caterpillars often feed on willow catkins and leaves.
• verb
To make or become sallow, pale, or unhealthy yellow in complexion.
"Months of poor nutrition and lack of sunlight had sallowed his once vibrant complexion."
• Rhymes for sallow
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The adjective and verb derive from Old English 'salu' (dusky, pale, or yellowish), from Proto-Germanic '*salwaz'. The noun meaning a willow tree comes from a distinct Old English root, 'sealh', which is cognate with Latin 'salix' (willow).