grey
/ɡreɪ/
adjective
Origin
Old English
grēg — grey, bright, shimmering
Overview
Meaning Now
- Of a neutral color between black and white.
- Having hair that has turned white or gray due to age.
- Dull, gloomy, or lacking in character or interest.
Language path
Proto-Indo-European → Proto-Germanic → Old English → English
Earliest form
grēg
Earliest period
Old English period
Journey
The spelling divergence between 'grey' and 'gray' solidified in the 18th and 19th centuries. Some proponents, such as Samuel Johnson, preferred 'grey', while American lexicographer Noah Webster promoted 'gray' to differentiate American English from British norms.
Evolution
- Old English
grēg
“grey”
- Middle English
grey
“grey”
- Early Modern English
grey/gray
“grey”
Spelling variation stabilized into regional preferences.
Connections
Word parts
grey
root
color between black and white
Related across languages
Old High German
grāo
grey
Old Norse
grár
grey
Explore next
Related to grey
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.