When we talk of colors, we’re often speaking French. Many of our most exotic color names are of French origin. Let’s take a pictorial tour of the colorful French countryside, where we’ll encounter drunken monasteries, burrowing insectivorous mammals, jumping blood-sucking insects, earthy shadows, juicy fruits, and edible ornamentals.
  by Funky Coda.
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Umber is derived from the French phrase “terre d’ombre,” literally “earth of shadow.” Raw umber is a dark yellow brown pigment, while burnt umber is roasted to a dark brown.
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 by Oklahoma State University.
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Puce is of French origin and literally means “flea” color. Puce is purplish-brown or dark red.
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 by Wikimedia Commons.
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Taupe is from the French word for “mole” or “moleskin.” Taupe is gray with a brownish tinge.
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 by Nemo’s great uncle.
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Mauve is of French origin and literally means “mallow,” an herb with light purple flowers.
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 by TimDan2.
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Citrine is from an Old French word meaning “lemon colored,” from the Latin “citrus.” It’s also the name of a glassy yellow quartz.
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 by Ekai.
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Chartreuse is named in honor of the Carthusian monastery in France where the pale yellow/green liqueur chartreuse was first made from brandy and aromatic herbs.
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The Prieure de Grande Chartreuse Monastery in France. by Wimbledonian.
About the Author, Craig Conley
Website: http://www.OneLetterWords.com
Craig is an independent scholar and author of dozens of strange and unusual books, including a unicorn field guide and a dictionary of magic words. He also loves color: Prof. Oddfellow
