a. [f. L. vīnāce-us, f. vīn-um wine: see -ACEOUS.] Of the (reddish) color of wine; wine-colored.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. 244. The Throat [is] tinctured with a lovely vinaceous, graplike colour.
1776. Pennant, Brit. Zool. (ed. 4), I. 267. The rump a fine cinereous: breast and belly, pale chesnut dashed with a vinaceous cast.
1802. Bingley, Anim. Biog. (1805), II. 388. The fore part of the neck and breast are vinaceous.
1815. Stephens, in Shaw’s Gen. Zool., IX. I. 91. Throat and sides of the head vinaceous.
1889. P. L. Sclater, Argentine Ornith., II. 140. Beneath plumbeous, with a strong vinaceous tinge.
b. Qualifying names of colors.
1788. J. White, Jrnl. Voy. N. S. Wales (1790), 146. The general colour of the bird otherwise is brown, changing to vinaceous red on the breast.
1817. Stephens, in Shaw’s Gen. Zool., X. I. 5. Vinaceous-grey Coly, with a blue tail, crested head, and shining green occiput. Ibid., XI. I. 84. Pigeon with the head … of a vinaceous purple.
1872. Coues, N. Amer. Birds, 226. Olive-gray with a reddish tinge, crown and under parts vinaceous-red.
1889. P. L. Sclater, Argentine Ornith., III. 140. Above pale vinaceous brown.
c. ellipt. or as sb.
1819. Stephens, in Shaw’s Gen. Zool., XI. I. 126. The belly, sides, thighs, and under tail-coverts, of a reddish vinaceous.
1877. Coues & Allen, N. Amer. Rod., 811. The prevailing tint of the dorsal surface varies from gray to pale vinaceous.
