a. More commonly in anglicized and corrupted forms: see FILEMOT. [Fr.; lit. ‘dead leaf.’] Of the color of a dead or faded leaf, brown or yellowish brown.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., III. xi. (ed. 3), 294. To make a Country-man understand what Feuillemorte Colour signifies, it may suffice to tell him, ’tis the Colour of wither’d Leaves falling in Autumn.
1876. Ouida, Winter City, ii. 22. She had feuille-morte velvet slashed with the palest of ambers; a high fraise; sleeves of the Renaissance; pointed shoes, and a great many jewels.
b. Comb., as feuillemorte-coloured adj.
1840. H. Ainsworth, Tower of London, ix. His glance fell upon a tall man, with an ample feuille-morte coloured cloak thrown over his left shoulder, so as completely to muffle the lower part of his features.
