Paris green
- noun
- /ˈpærɪs ɡrin/
- Archaic
:
verde París
- The artist used Paris green in her latest painting.
Examples
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Paris green was once a popular insecticide before safer alternatives became available.
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The artists of the nineteenth century often used Paris green in their paintings, despite its toxicity.
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The vibrant shade of Paris green made it a favorite, though it was hazardous to human health.
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Is Paris green still used in modern art?
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Historically, Paris green was considered an effective pesticide against agricultural pests.
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Artists once favored Paris green for its vibrant hue in oil paintings.
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The use of Paris green in home decor was common due to its intense green color.
Surface Forms
Morphology
The element 'green' makes the color sense immediately obvious, but 'Paris' as a place-name does not indicate the specific chemical nature or toxic/insecticidal meaning of the term. Because learners can infer it denotes a shade of green but cannot predict the pigment’s composition or toxicity from the parts, the expression is only partially transparent.
Etymology
The noun Paris green also names a poisonous chemical first used as a pigment and later as an 'insect-killer' in Paris. Because it contained a poison called 'arsenic', it was very dangerous, so the name now reminds people of both the bright green color and its hazard.
