Taupe is a dark browncolor between brown and gray. The word derives from the French noun taupe meaning "mole". The name originally referred only to the average color of the French mole, but beginning in the 1940s, its usage expanded to encompass a wider range of shades. Taupe is a vague color term which may refer to almost any grayish brown or brownish gray, but true taupe is difficult to pinpoint as brown or gray. According to the Dictionary of Color, the first use of "taupe" as a color name in English was in the early 19th century; but the earliest citation recorded by the Oxford English Dictionary is from 1911. In 1846 it was claimed that "All shades of grey are fashionable en neglige, particularly pearl grey, iron grey, and taupe."
Description
Taupe colors fall into a range from dark tan to grayish brown or brownish gray. The word derives from the French noun taupe, which in turn is from the Latintalpa, both meaning "mole". The name originally referred only to the average color of the French mole, but, beginning in the 1940s, its usage expanded to encompass a wider range of shades. Taupe is a vague color term which may refer to almost any grayish-brown, brownish-gray, or warm gray color. It often overlaps with tan and even people who use color professionally frequently disagree as to what "taupe" means. Taupe itself, however, is not directly correlated with such colors as purple or pink. There is no single, generally recognized authority for such terms, but the addition of such colors can create a wider variety of shades which can benefit either art. When viewed on a precisely calibrated monitor, the color displayed above-right matches the color sample called taupe referenced in the 1930 book A Dictionary of Color, the world standard for color terms before the invention of computers. However, the wordtaupe may often be used to refer to lighter shades of taupe today, and therefore another name for this color is dark taupe. According to the Dictionary of Color, the first use of "taupe" as a color name in English was in the early 19th century; but the earliest citation recorded by the Oxford English Dictionary is from 1911.
Variations of taupe
Pale taupe (mouse)
The first recorded use of mouse as a color name in English was in 1606.
Light taupe
Light taupe is the light tone of taupe that is the color called taupe in Crayola colored pencils.
Mauve taupe
At right is displayed the color mauve taupe. The first recorded use of mauve taupe as a color name in English was in 1925.
Rose taupe
The color displayed at right is rose taupe. The first recorded use of rose taupe as a color name in English was in 1924.
Sandy taupe
At right is displayed the color sandy taupe. This color is also called taupe sand.
Taupe gray
Displayed at right is the color taupe gray.
Deep taupe
The color deep taupe is displayed at right. The source of this color is the "Pantone Textile Paper eXtended " color list, color #18-1612 TPX—Deep Taupe.
Taupe brown
The color taupe brown is a very dark shade of tan that almost appears brown and is displayed at right. This is the color shown as the color taupe brown in ISCC-NBS color sample #46. Another name for this color is medium taupe.
