sb. and a. [ad. L. carnātiōn-em (in Cælius Aurelianus c. 420 in sense ‘fleshiness, corpulence’), f. carn-em flesh; cf. F. carnation, and It. carnagione ‘the hew or colour of ones skin and flesh’ (Florio).]
A. sb. 1. † a. The color of human ‘flesh’ or skin; flesh-color (obs.); b. a light rosy pink, but sometimes used for a deeper crimson color as in the carnation flower.
c. 1535. Dewes, Introd. Fr., in Palsgr., 921. Carnatyon, carnation.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., II. (1586), 67. Some of them glitter … with a deepe purple, and some with a passing beautifull Carnation.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., II. iii. 35. A could neuer abide Carnation, ’twas a Colour he neuer lik’d.
1622. Peacham, Compl. Gentl., xiii. (1634), 129. Flesh-colours or Carnations for the face and complexion.
1662. Phillips, Carnation, a kind of colour resembling raw flesh.
1828. Lytton, Pelham, I. iii. 22. Her complexion of the most delicate carnation.
1863. Miss Braddon, Eleanor’s Vict., III. viii. 108. The pink-blossom tint of her cheeks was intensified into vivid carnation.
2. pl. ‘Flesh tints’ in a painting; those parts of a painting that represent the naked skin.
1704. J. Harris, Lex. Techn., Carnation, is a Term in Painting, signifying such Parts of an Human Body as are drawn naked … or what express the bare Flesh; and when this is done Natural, Bold, and Strong, and is well coloured, they say of the Painter, that his Carnation is very good.
1760. Goldsm., Cit. W., xxxiv. What attitudes, carnations, and draperies!
1812. Examiner, 24 May, 327/2. He has been here less happy than usual in his carnations.
3. Name of a variety of cherry.
1664. Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 210. Cherries: Carnations, Morella.
1767. J. Abercrombie, Ev. Man Own Gard. (1803), 674/1. Cherries, early May, Carnation, Amber.
1846. J. Baxter, Libr. Pract. Agric., I. 163.
B. adj. [attrib. use of the sb. in sense 1.] † a. Flesh-colored (obs.); b. rose pink. See A. 1.
1565–78. Cooper, Thesaurus, Carnosus candor, a carnation whitenesse.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, II. lvi. 217. [The flowers of the orchis are] … of a carnation or fleshly colour like the colour of mans body.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., III. i. 146. How much Carnation Ribbon may a man buy?
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 13. A certain four-footed beast of a yellowish-carnation colour. Ibid., 232. [Of Horses] the chief colours are these; bay, white, carnation, golden, russet, mouse-colour, flea-bitten, spotted, pale and black.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., li. § 1. 202. In a Carnation Satin Suit.
1820. Scott, Monast., xvi. Hanging garters of carnation silk.
1824. Byron, Juan, XVI. xciii. Juan grew carnation with vexation.
fig. 1647. Ward, Simp. Cobler, 86. To sugar your papers with Carnation phrases.
C. Comb., as carnation-colo(u)red, -painted adjs.
1596. Nashe, Saffron Walden, 64. When these Italionate carnation painted horses tayles were in fashion.
1786. trans. Beckford’s Vathek, 99. His superb carnation-coloured tent.
