names. Some colours were self-explanatory, such as ‘ash’ used for commoners’ gowns and kirtles along with a grey called ‘rats’. ‘Puke’ was a dirty brown colour and ‘goose-turd green’ not difficult to imagine. Russet was the same then as it is now, but plum was called ‘murrey’ and golden-brown was ‘tawney’. Other yellow shades were named after what they resembled such as ‘primrose’ or ‘straw’, with tan shades named as ‘maiden hair’ for a bright shade and ‘Isabella’ for a light buff. A very light yellow was known as ‘cane’.
