What does oxblood mean?
Oxblood is a deep, dark red-brown color whose name comes from the color associated with an ox's blood. It is used both as a noun for the named color and as an adjective to describe things that have that color, such as paint, fabric, clothing, or a room. Compared with maroon, burgundy, or simply dark red, oxblood suggests a particularly rich, warm, and slightly earthy shade. The word is especially familiar in art, interior design, fashion, and descriptions of painted surfaces, where a precise color name is useful. Although the expression can evoke blood or violence, it is normally used aesthetically and does not necessarily carry those associations. Its distinctive history and strong visual associations make it a useful and memorable color term.
A deep, dark red-brown color, or the color itself.
"The cabinet was restored in a rich oxblood."
Usually used as the name of a specific shade rather than as a general term for red.
Of or resembling the deep, dark red-brown color called oxblood.
"They upholstered the chairs in oxblood velvet."
Common in descriptions of paint, textiles, clothing, and interior decoration.
The plural is used when referring to multiple objects, garments, or examples of the color.
"The collection includes several oxbloods in different shades."
Its name comes from the deep red-brown color associated with an ox's blood, turning an ordinary farmyard image into a rich, dramatic shade.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does oxblood come from?
Oxblood is a compound of ox and blood, both of which are Old English words. The compound was adopted as a color name because the blood of an ox was regarded as a deep, dark red-brown. The term later became associated with pigments, furnishings, clothing, and other objects distinguished by that color.
Related word forms
How oxblood is actually used
The term is chiefly used for a specific dark red-brown shade. It is more specific and somewhat more evocative than general terms such as maroon or burgundy, and is especially common in descriptions of paint, textiles, interiors, and fashion.