Blue-gray

{{short description|Color}} {{redirect|Gray blue|the butterfly|Agriades podarce|the RAL color|Grey blue (RAL)}} {{redirect|Blue grey|the RAL color|Blue grey (RAL)}} {{for-multi|the cow|Blue Gray cattle|other uses|The Blue and the Gray (disambiguation)}} {{pp-pc}} {{infobox color |title=Livid (Blue-gray) |hex=6699CC |source=Maerz and Paul<ref name=MaerzandPaul>The color displayed in the color box above matches the color called ''livid'' in the 1930 book by Maerz and Paul ''A Dictionary of Color'' New York:1930 McGraw-Hill; Discussion of the color Livid Page 165</ref> (Crayola) |isccname=Light blue}}

'''Blue-gray''' (also '''blue-grey''' in British English) is a medium blue-gray color on the cool side of the color wheel. The name ''blue-gray'' was introduced by Crayola for a crayon color used from 1958 to 1990. The complementary color is #CC9966, a warm khaki or brown.

It has historically been called '''livid''', from the Latin ''lividus'', meaning "a dull leaden-blue color".<ref name=MaerzandPaul>The color displayed in the color box above matches the color called ''livid'' in the 1930 book by Maerz and Paul ''A Dictionary of Color'' New York:1930 McGraw-Hill; Discussion of the color Livid Page 165</ref> The word entered English in the fifteenth century, first in medical use to describe the bluish-gray discoloration of bruised or damaged flesh, the condition also expressed in the phrase "black and blue".<ref name=OED>''Oxford English Dictionary'', "livid, adj.", revised 2016.</ref> The familiar modern sense of ''livid'' meaning furiously angry developed later, via the intermediate sense of a face turning pale or ashen with rage.<ref name=OED/>

There is a wide range of named blue-gray or livid shades, including steel blue, glaucous, cadet grey, and Payne's grey, among others. The color appears in nature, culture, and military uniform traditions around the world.

==Variations of blue-gray== The colors below are arranged according to value (brightness, the V code in HSV), lightest at the top and darkest towards the bottom.

===Lavender gray===

{{infobox color |title=Lavender gray |hex=C4C3D0 |source=ISCC-NBS<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tx4.us/nbs/nbs-l.htm|title=Retsof online version of ISCC-NBS Dictionary of Colo(u)r Names - La through Lz|date=August 22, 2017|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822091612/http://tx4.us/nbs/nbs-l.htm |archive-date=22 August 2017 }}</ref> |isccname=Light bluish-gray}} The historical name for this color is '''lavender gray'''. It is listed in ''A Dictionary of Color'' as one of the three major variations of lavender in 1930 along with ''lavender blue'' (shown below) and [floral] ''lavender'' (also shown below).<ref>Maerz and Paul ''A Dictionary of Color'' New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 197</ref> (This book also designates a fourth shade of lavender, called ''old lavender'', also shown below). This color is similar to Prismacolor colored pencil PC 1026, ''Greyed Lavender''. {{Clear}}

===Iceberg=== {{infobox color |title=Iceberg |hex=71A6D2 |source=Maerz and Paul<ref>The color displayed in the color box above matches the color called ''iceberg'' in the 1930 book by Maerz and Paul ''A Dictionary of Color'' New York:1930 McGraw-Hill; the color ''iceberg'' is displayed on page 95, Plate 36, Color Sample H4.</ref> |isccname=Light blue}}

The color '''iceberg''' is displayed at right.

The first recorded use of ''iceberg'' as a color name in English was in 1921.<ref>Maerz and Paul ''A Dictionary of Color'' New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 196; Color Sample of Iceberg: Page 95 Plate 36 Color Sample H4</ref> [[File:Glacial iceberg in Argentina.jpg|alt=An iceberg in Argentina|thumb|An iceberg in Argentina]] {{clear}}

===Slate blue=== {{Infobox color |title=Slate blue |hex=6A5ACD |source=X11<ref name="CSS Color Module Level 3">{{cite web|url=http://www.w3.org/TR/css3-color/#svg-color|title=CSS Color Module Level 3|access-date=12 February 2017}}</ref> |isccname=Vivid purplish blue}}

Displayed at right is the web color '''slate blue'''.

The first recorded use of ''slate blue'' as a color name in English was in 1796.<ref>Maerz and Paul ''A Dictionary of Color'' New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 204; Color Sample of Slate Blue: Page 115 Plate 46 Color Sample A7</ref> {{clear}}

===Blue bell=== {{infobox color |title=Blue bell |hex=A2A2D0 |source=Crayola |isccname=Light purplish blue}} '''Blue bell''' is a shade of blue-gray. It is also a Crayola color. It represents the bluebell flower.

The first recorded use of ''bluebell'' as a color name in English was in 1920.<ref>Maerz and Paul ''A Dictionary of Color'' New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 190; Color Sample of Bluebell: Page 97 Plate 37 Color Sample J10</ref> [[File:Bluebells - geograph.org.uk - 2375785.jpg|alt=Bluebell flowers|thumb|Bluebell flowers]] {{clear}}

===Glaucous=== {{main|Glaucous}} {{infobox color |title=Glaucous |hex=6082B6 |source=ISCC-NBS<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tx4.us/nbs/nbs-g.htm|title=Retsof online version of ISCC-NBS Dictionary of Colo(u)r Names - Ga through Gz|date=November 22, 2012|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122220332/http://tx4.us/nbs/nbs-g.htm |archive-date=22 November 2012 }}</ref> |isccname=Moderate blue}}

'''Glaucous''' is a shade of blue-gray found on the surfaces of some plants and animals.

The first recorded use of ''glaucous'' as a color name in English was in the year 1671.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia | title = Glaucous, a. | encyclopedia = Oxford English Dictionary | year = 2010 }}</ref> [[File:Glaucous-winged Gull (14580415262).jpg|alt=A glaucous gull|thumb|A glaucous gull]] {{clear}}

===Steel blue=== {{main|Steel blue}} {{Infobox color |title=Steel blue |hex=4682B4 |source=X11<ref name="CSS Color Module Level 3"/> |isccname=Moderate blue}}

'''Steel blue''' is a color that resembles blue steel.

The first recorded use of ''steel blue'' as a color name in English was in 1817.<ref>Maerz and Paul ''A Dictionary of Color'' New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 205</ref> {{clear}}

===Cadet grey=== {{main|Cadet grey}} {{infobox color |title=Cadet grey |hex=91A3B0 |source=ISCC-NBS<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tx4.us/nbs/nbs-c.htm|title=Retsof online version of ISCC-NBS Dictionary of Colo(u)r Names - Ca through Cz|date=November 22, 2012|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122220449/http://tx4.us/nbs/nbs-c.htm |archive-date=22 November 2012 }}</ref> |isccname=Grayish blue}}

'''Cadet grey''', shown at right, and ''cadet blue'', are shades of color used in military uniforms.

The first recorded use of ''cadet grey'' as a color name in English was in 1912.<ref>Maerz and Paul ''A Dictionary of Color'' New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 191; Color Sample of Cadet Grey: Page 95 Plate 36 Color Sample C4</ref> Before 1912, the word ''cadet grey'' was used as a name for a type of military issue uniform. {{clear}}

===Cool gray=== {{Main|Shades of gray#Cool gray}} {{infobox color |title=Gray-blue |hex=8C92AC |source=ISCC-NBS<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tx4.us/nbs/nbs-g.htm|title=Retsof online version of ISCC-NBS Dictionary of Colo(u)r Names - Ga through Gz|date=August 10, 2017|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810183646/http://tx4.us/nbs/nbs-g.htm |archive-date=10 August 2017 }}</ref> |isccname=Pale blue}}

'''Cool gray''' is a medium light color gray mixed with the color blue.

Another name for this color is '''gray-blue'''.

This color is a dull shade of blue-gray.

This color is identical with color sample #203 (identified as "gray blue") at the following website: {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20170810183646/http://tx4.us/nbs/nbs-g.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20170810183646/http://tx4.us/nbs/nbs-g.htm]}}—The ISCC-NBS Dictionary of Colo(u)r Names (1955), a website for stamp collectors to evaluate the colors of their stamps. {{clear}}

===Air Force blue=== {{Main|Air Force blue}} {{Infobox color |title=Air Force Blue |spelling=color |hex=5D8AA8 |source=Vexillological:<ref name=RAFch7>[http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/F220517C_C37F_4A1E_C1A831E90982A73E.pdf History of the RAF, Chapter 7 – Cultural & Organizational Heritage], p. 370</ref> |isccname=Moderate greenish blue}}

'''Air force blue''' is a grayish shade of blue or azure used by the RAF.

There are other tones of ''air force blue'', such as the darker one used by the United States Air Force. {{clear}}

===Shadow blue=== {{infobox color |title=Shadow blue |hex=778BA5 |source=Crayola |isccname=Grayish blue}} The color '''shadow blue''' is displayed at right. ''Shadow blue'' is a color formulated by Crayola in 1990 as one of the colors in its Silver Swirls specialty box of metallic colors.

Although this is supposed to be a metallic color, there is no mechanism for displaying metallic colors on a computer. {{clear}}

===Dark blue-gray=== {{Infobox colour | title=Dark blue-gray | hex=666699 | spelling=color | source=WSC | isccname=Moderate purplish blue}}

The color '''dark blue-gray''' is displayed at right. {{clear}}

===Roman silver=== {{Main|Silver (color)#Roman silver}} {{infobox color |title=Roman silver |hex=838996 |source=Resene<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nzexplorer.co.nz/colour_swatch_library/search.php?type=letter&letter=r|title=nzexplorer.co.nz|website=nzexplorer.co.nz}}</ref> |isccname=Bluish gray}}

At right is displayed the color '''Roman silver'''.

''Roman silver'' is one of the colors on the [https://www.resene.co.nz/swatches/ Resene Color List], a color list widely popular in Australia and New Zealand.

This color is supposed to be a metallic color; however, there is no mechanism for displaying metallic colors on a flat computer screen. {{clear}}

===Rhythm=== {{infobox color |title=Rhythm |hex=777696 |source=Resene<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.resene.co.nz/swatches/preview.php?chart=Resene+Multi-finish+range+(2008)&brand=Resene&name=Rhythm|title=Colour Swatch|website=Resene Swatches}}</ref> |isccname=Grayish purplish blue}}

Displayed at right is the color '''rhythm'''.

''Rhythm'' is one of the colors on the [https://www.resene.co.nz/swatches/ Resene Color List], a color list widely popular in Australia and New Zealand. The color "rhythm" was formulated in 2004. {{clear}}

===Payne's gray=== {{Main|Payne's grey}} {{infobox color |title=Payne's gray |hex=536878 |source=Ridgway:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://colors.bravo9.com/nbs-iscc-r-color-standards-and-color-nomenclature/list/all/|title=NBS/ISCC R - Color Standards and Color Nomenclature|date=March 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301124330/http://colors.bravo9.com/nbs-iscc-r-color-standards-and-color-nomenclature/list/all/ |archive-date=1 March 2012 }}</ref><ref>Of the various tones of Payne's Grey shown on the indicated web page of the Ridgway color list, the color displayed in the color box above matches most closely the color called ''Payne's Gray'' in the 1930 book by Maerz and Paul ''A Dictionary of Color'' New York:1930 McGraw-Hill; the color ''Payne's Gray'' is displayed on page 117, Plate 47, Color Sample A9.</ref> |isccname=Grayish blue}}

'''Payne's gray''' is a dark blue-gray color used in painting.

The first recorded use of ''Payne's grey'' as a color name in English was in 1835.<ref>Maerz and Paul ''A Dictionary of Color'' New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 201; Color Sample of Payne's Gray: Page 117 Plate 47 Color Sample A9</ref> {{clear}}

==Blue-gray in nature== [[File:Blue-gray gnatcatcher (91056).jpg|thumb|200px|The blue-grey gnatcatcher]] '''Insects''' * ''Calliphora livida'' '''Arachnids''' * ''Haplopelma lividum'' '''Birds''' * Blue-grey gnatcatcher * Blue-grey tanager '''Mammals''' * Blue-gray mouse

==Blue-gray in culture== '''Animal husbandry''' * Blue Grey is a type of beef cattle popular in Scotland and the north of England.

'''Medicine/sociology''' * Upper-class families who used silver eating utensils every day gradually ingested small pieces of silver into their bodies and eventually developed a mild form of a condition called argyria, in which the skin takes on a blue-gray color; thus, they became known as ''bluebloods''.<ref>Alexander, Wesley J. ''History of the Medical Use of Silver''</ref>

'''Sports''' * The Blue–Gray Football Classic was an annual American college football all-star game held in Alabama usually on Christmas Day. It began in 1939 and was held annually through 2001 at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. It pitted players from the former Confederacy against players from the northern and western states of the United States.

'''Transportation planning''' * In the Muni Metro, San Francisco's light rail system, the K Ingleside line (which goes to the Ingleside neighborhood), is represented by the color blue-gray.

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Shades of blue Category:Shades of gray