Also shortened stil. [Fr.; according to Hatz.-Darm., corruptly a. Du schijtgroen, f. schijt excrement + groen green.] A yellow pigment (see quots.).
1769. Croker, etc., Dict. Arts & Sci., Stil de Grain,… a composition used for painting … made by a decoction of the lycium or Avignon berry in alum-water, which is mixed with whiting into a paste, and formed into twisted sticks.
1835. G. Field, Chromatogr., 84. The pigment called Stil, or Stil de grain.
1862. C. O’Neill, Dict. Calico Printing, 20/1. The yellow lake extensively used by artists … called ‘stil de grain,’ and manufactured in Holland, is made by preparing a decoction [etc.].
1885. J. S. Taylor, Field’s Chromatogr., 162. Brown-Pink, or Stil-de-Grain, is generally prepared from Avignon berries, or from Turkey and Persian berries.
