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Isabelline
— Colour coordinates —
Hex triplet		#F4F0EC
RGBB	(r, g, b)	(244, 240, 236)
HSV	(h, s, v)	(30°, 3%, 96%)
Source		Internet
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

Light Palomino Quarter Horse, which may be described as "Isabelline" coloured

Isabelline, sometimes called Isabella, is a colour, variously described as pale grey-yellow, pale fawn, pale cream-brown or parchment.

The first recorded use of Isabella as a colour name in English, according to the 1930 book A Dictionary of Color was in the year 1601 ^[1]; however, others argue for an earlier date of first use--see below.

See the article on Isabelline animal colour for a discussion of how this colour arises genetically in animals.

Isabelline Shrike

Etymology

According to popular legend, the name comes from Isabella, Archduchess of Austria (1566–1633), daughter of Philip II of Spain (1527–1598). Her husband, Albert VII, Archduke of Austria (1559–1621) laid siege to Ostend in July 1601 and Isabella, expecting a quick victory, vowed not to change her underwear until the city was taken. The siege lasted a little over three years (ending in September 1604) and her underwear understandably became discoloured in the interval.

This origin is demonstrably false, as the word was in use before 1601. In 1600, Queen Elizabeth I of England's wardrobe inventory included one rounde gowne of Isabella-colour satten [...] set with silver bangles. A more plausible, though probably still false, version refers to the much earlier Isabella I of Castile, the Catholic (1451–1504) and the eight-month siege of Granada by Ferdinand II of Aragon (1452–1516). This siege ended in January 1492 and again resulted in overworn underwear belonging to Isabella.^[2]

Isabellina in human culture

Animal Husbandry

• In horse colours, Isabelline or Isabella Palomino are terms applied to very pale palomino horses whose coat colour is cream, pale yellow or almost white.

Television

• An isabella palomino stallion called Thowra and his descendants starred in the series The Silver Brumby by Elyne Mitchell

References

See also

• List of colours