dusky

Everyday

1. Rather dark, as at dusk, the time when evening turns into night. tree →
2. Dark or dim in colour: «dusky pink», «dusky blue». tree →
3. (old, now offensive) Used in old books to describe people with dark skin; this use is hurtful today and should not be used. tree →

In the lessons

A describing word in nature lessons and stories for evening light, shadows and soft colours. Animals are named with it: the dusky dolphin, dusky shark. In older books, including some of Kipling's, words about skin colour are used in ways we now know are wrong.

Examples

• The dusky sky was full of bats. tree →
• We walked home through the dusky lane. tree →
• She wore a dusky pink dress. tree →
• The dusky dolphin lives near New Zealand. tree →
• The room grew dusky as the sun went down. tree →
• Moths came out in the dusky garden. tree →
• At last the sun went down behind the pine tops, and it was cool and dusky in the great wood. tree →

Note

From «dusk» + «-y». Use it for light and colours. The old use about people's skin is racist today: if you read it in an old book, know it is an outdated way of speaking.