[f. FLESH sb. + COLOUR.] The colour of the flesh (of a ‘white’ human being) as seen through the skin; usually employed to denote a tint composed of ‘a light pink with a little yellow’ (O’Neill, Dyeing, 1862).
1611. Cotgr., Baillet, a pale red, or flesh colour.
1674. Josselyn, Voy. New Eng., 74. The water-mellon is proper to the Countrie, the flesh of it is of a flesh colour, a rare cooler of Feavers, and excellent against the stone.
1882. Garden, 15 July, 58/2. Flowers of fine substance and form, well displayed, beautiful flesh colour, suffused with pink.
b. attrib. or adj. = next.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 13, 15 March, ¶ 3. He once gave him a Ripp in his flesh-colour Doublet, but this was only to make work for himself, in his private Character of a Taylor.
