auburn English · revision 2147

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɔ.bɚn/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fro|auborne|t=blond]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) through Anglo-French ''auburn'',^(Barnhart 1995)^(RHWU) from [[la-med|alburnus|t=whitish]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from [[la|albus|t=white]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Whitish or yellowish-white; flaxen (before 1420; 1430 in the OED).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the 15th to the 17th century it was often spelled ''abron'' or ''abroun'',^(Barnhart 1995) which suggested ''brown'' and shifted the meaning in the 16th century to reddish brown.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) Since then it has mostly been used of hair.^(Etymonline) It is used as a noun from 1852.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1420 – yellowish or whitish, blond.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1430 – yellowish or brownish white.^(OED 1989)

+ * 16th century – reddish brown.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1852 – as a noun.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of a reddish-brown or golden-brown colour, especially of hair.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A reddish-brown or moderate brown colour.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[alb]]

+ * [[album]]

+ * [[brown]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}