Valiant Kilt Ruby

Latin valēns, strong — present-participle of valēre, sharing root with English value and valor. As a color modifier, valiant implies a saturated-and-courageous-and-firm quality, the deep-rich color of Crusader-and-Knight-Templar military-religious-order vestment. Sits at the bold-and-chivalrous end of the grid, parallel to gallant and heroic in usage.

Scots kilt, Highland-pleated-skirt. As a color modifier, kilt implies a Highland-tartan-and-pleated-skirt quality, the visual register of Highland-tartan-and-Black-Watch-kilt hand-Highland-tartan-and-pleated-skirt Highland-tartan-and-Black-Watch-kilt-and-clan-Macleod kilt-and-Highland-tartan surfaces under Highland-tartan-and-Black-Watch-kilt-and-clan-Macleod Highland-clan-and-Edinburgh-tartan-mill tartan-and-pleated-light. Sits at the modifier-and-textile end of the grid, parallel to sash and tabard in usage.

From the Latin ruber — simply, red. The gemstone is a chromium-tinged corundum, harder than anything in nature except diamond, and so saturated that a fine Burmese pigeon's blood ruby at auction outpaces a comparable diamond by weight. The color borrows the gem's confidence: a clear, glassy red without the brown of garnet or the blue of crimson.