umber

Etymology

From Middle French ombre (“umber”), from terre d'ombre (“dark ochre”), from Old French umbre (“shade, shadow”), from Latin umbra. Doublet of umbra.

noun

1. A brown clay, somewhat darker than ochre, which contains iron and manganese oxides.
   umber:
2. Alternative form of umbrere
3. A grayling.
4. A dusky brown African wading bird (Scopus umbretta) allied to the shoebill and herons; a hamerkop.

adj

1. Of a reddish brown colour, like that of the pigment.
   Their harps are of the umber shade / That hides the blush of waking day. 1819, Joseph Rodman Drake, The Culprit Fay

verb

1. (transitive) To give a reddish-brown colour to.
   Armies o'er armies heap'd, the locusts came, Like clouds in autumn umbering all the sky […] 1807, Charles Hoyle, Exodus