sb. pl. Anthropology. [mod.L. (Huxley), app. meant as a transliteration of an assumed Gr. *ξάνθωχροι, f. ξανθός yellow + ὠχρός pale (the regular L. form of which would be *xanthōchrī); by later writers and in Dicts. taken as xanthŏchroī (sing. -chrous), ad. Gr. ξανθόχροος, f. ξανθός yellow + χρόα skin: cf. MELANOCHROI.] In Huxley’s classification of the varieties of mankind: A subdivision of the Leiotrichi or smooth-haired class, having yellow or light-colored hair and pale complexion.
1866. [see XANTHOMELANOI].
1875. Tylor, in Encycl. Brit., II. 113/2. The Xanthochroi, or fair whites … are the prevalent inhabitants of Northern Europe.
Hence Xanthochroic, Xanthochroid, Xanthochrooid, Xanthochroous, Xanthochrous adjs., of, pertaining to, or having the characters of the Xanthochroi. So ǁ Xanthochroia [mod.L. f. Gr. χροιά = χρόα skin], yellow discoloration of the skin from change in the pigment; Xanthochroism, Ornith., abnormal replacement of another color by yellow in the plumage of certain birds.
1867. W. J. E. Wilson, Diseases of Skin (ed. 6), 695. Xanthopathia. Syn. Xanthoderma; *xanthochroia.
1870. Huxley, in Contemp. Rev., July, 515. The *Xanthochroic area.
1878. Bartley, trans. Topinard’s Anthrop., II. i. 202. The xanthochroic group: pale skin, blue eyes, and abundant fair hair.
1865. Lubbock, Preh. Times, xii. (1869), 378. [The] *Xanthochroid [group].
1893. Newton, Dict. Birds, 421. There seems to be a certain correlation of colours in most cases of Heterochrosis:… green feathers exhibit *xanthochroism.
1909. Cent. Dict. Supp., *Xanthochroöid, same as Xanthochroic.
1891. Cent. Dict., *Xanthochroöus.
1865. *Xanthochrous [see MELANOCHROUS].
1901. Q. Rev., July, 230. Great stature and a xanthochrous complexion were to them the characteristics of the Celt or German.
