Monday, June 23, 2008

The Great Puce Debate



French, literally, flea, from Old French pulce, from Latin pulic-, pulex — more at psylla
Date:
1833
: a dark red


From Wikipedia: Puce is a color that is defined as ranging from reddish-brown to purplish-brown, with the latter being the more widely-accepted definition found in reputable sources. It can be used as either a noun (the name of the color) or as an adjective (something having that color).

Went out Saturday with a group of friend's to celebrate the lovely Leanna's 21st birthday (or something like that) at Jekyll & Hyde (yes, really) where fruity Belgium beers were consumed, and much fun was made of the actor who was playing the Butler (fyi butlers don't walk around conspicuously chewing gum). Afterwards, we walked all the way to the extreme East Village to go dancing at the Pyramid Club (and I use the word 'club' loosely). They were playing really groovy 80's music (Love White Wedding!), but my feet were screaming and I had to pack it in after about an hour and a half.

Liz Maverick and I refused to let our friend, the adorable Megan Frampton, walk 10 blocks to the F train by herself, despite her protests (how could we live with ourselves if she got kidnapped by white slavers? And left her son motherless with issues?), so we made her walk with us to take the N/R train. On the way, we had a disagreement about the definition of the color puce (yes, this was actually a discussion). Liz and I insisted that puce was a greenish gray color, while Megan insisted that it was actually a purplish color.

Well, guess what? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, we were all wrong (Actually Megan was a little right in that it can be a purple brown).
So I think Liz and I might owe her a drink the next time we go out.

2 comments:

Megan Frampton said...

Dude, this is what I said:

"purplish-brown, with the latter being the more widely-accepted definition found in reputable sources."

So I was RIGHT, not just kinda right.

Elizabeth Kerri Mahon said...

Okay, so we owe you a drink!