Also 7–8 terra-vert, 8 terraverd. [F. terre verte (De Lisle, 1783), terre verde (Cotgr.), It. terra verde ‘green earth’; cf. G. grünerde.] A soft green earth of varying composition used as a pigment; esp. that obtained from Italy (Verona), Cyprus, and France; = CELADONITE or green earth, a variety of glauconite.
1658. W. Sanderson, Graphice, 82. Earth colours are best, as all Okers … Terre-vert.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. 313/2. Terra-vert colour, a kind of a dusky green,… is an earthy Clay Painters use.
1711. Brit. Apollo, III. No. 141. 2/2. The smallest Body’d Terravert, Lake and the Pinks.
1730. Gordon, Maffei’s Amphith., 9. Crisocolla or Terraverd.
1748. J. Hill, Fossils, 31. Blueish green indurated Clay, called by the painters Terre Verte,… one of the best and most lasting greens they have.
1884. J. C. Staples, in Girl’s Own Mag., 8 March, 354/1. Emerald green and terre vert among the greens.
