gainsboro

Definition

A neutral light grey colour.

Etymology

A color named "gainsboro" was added to the X11 color chart by Paul Raveling in 1989. Raveling explained that he introduced a number of "light and off-white colors, copied from several Sinclair Paints color samples", of which gainsboro appears to be one.

Example Sentences

• "By using light gray or Gainsboro we are using Edward Tufte's principle of "minimum effective difference" to put in ancillary information."
• "When the temperature reached to^([sic]) about 40 °C, the color of characters began to change, and it changed completely from black to gainsboro when the temperature rose to about 50 °C. As the[…]film cooled down to the room temperature, the color returned to black."