lettuce greenn.adj.
/ˌlɛtᵻs ˈɡriːn/, U.S. /ˌlɛdəs ˈɡrin/ A. n.
1. A medium shade of green resembling that of lettuce.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > green or greenness > [noun] > shade or tint of green > other greens
beech-greenc1450
frost on green1559
sap1572
apple green1648
sap-green1686
myrtle green1717
Brunswick green1790
pistachio1791
pistachio green1793
mountain green1794
lettuce green1834
copper-green1843
canard1872
myrtle1872
leaf-green1880
cress-green1883
cresson1883
watercress green1883
lizard-green1897
jade1921
apple1923
laurel1923
mango1930
laurel-green1938
lettuce1963
mint1967
1834 Edinb. New Philos. Jrnl. 17 315 When it [sc. a chameleon] was placed near to the window, and a hope of escaping seemed to be excited, the tinge of lettuce-green extended itself over the whole body.
1897 Sears, Roebuck Catal. No. 104. 222/2 Delicate tintings of..lemon, lettuce green, scarlet.
1927 Pop. Sci. Monthly Nov. 75/1 Top in lettuce green, with molding in gold.
1970 Guardian 2 June 7/8 Mimosa, Lettuce Green, Lavender Blue.
1997 T. Mackintosh-Smith Yemen (1999) i. 20 Qat can be any colour from lettuce-green to bruise-purple.
2. North American. In plural. Salad greens.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > fruit and vegetables > vegetables > leaf vegetables > [noun] > other leaves
nettle top?1585
lettuce1597
green food1658
peppergrass1696
Welsh onion1731
lamb's quarter1773
Shawnee salad1780
puha1843
poke greens1848
rauriki1848
swede greens1887
swede tops1887
lettuce green1900
leafy greena1918
rapini1959
1900 Newark (Ohio) Daily Advocate 3 Apr. 4/4 Salmon leaf. Stuffed potatoes. Lettuce greens. Egg dressing.
1951 Winnipeg Free Press 12 Mar. 15/2 Serve on crisp lettuce greens and garnish with mayonnaise.
1992 Iowa Rev. 22 176 All I heard for a moment was the sound of them munching on lettuce greens like rabbits.
2007 G. Macomber 74 Seaside Avenue ix. 94 ‘We appreciate that, Eddie,’ Rosie said, mixing chopped green pepper and tomatoes into the lettuce greens.
B. adj.
Usually with hyphen. Of a medium green colour resembling that of lettuce.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > green or greenness > [adjective] > other greens
beech-greenc1450
viper-greenc1602
sap-green1658
pea-green1752
leaf-green1810
lettuce green1834
Kendal green1866
jade-green1868
pistachio1875
lizard-green1897
mango1991
1834 Edinb. New Philos. Jrnl. 17 315 There was often observed upon its [sc. a chameleon's] sides, spots of a lettuce-green colour.
1898 Pall Mall Mag. Aug. 452 ‘Translated?’ said Laura, the girl in the lettuce-green hat.
1929 E. Wilson I thought of Daisy i. 3 I saw lettuce-green cocktail glasses.
1971 D. Beaty Temple Tree 157 A lettuce-green shirt.
2003 J. C. Blake Under Skin (2004) 75 A lettuce-green Model T sedan without a left front fender was turning onto Mechanic Street.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.adj.1834