Spartan Tabard Crimson

Greek Spartiátēs, of Sparta — adjectival suffix referring to the Lacedaemonian warrior city. As a color modifier, spartan implies a saturated-and-disciplined-and-formal quality, the deep-rich color of Spartan-hoplite military-class crimson-and-bronze armor-and-cloak. Sits at the bold-and-formal end of the grid, parallel to austere and stern in tone.

Old French tabart, herald's-or-knight's-surcoat. As a color modifier, tabard implies a herald's-tabard-and-knight's-surcoat quality, the visual register of medieval-herald's-and-knight's-tabard hand-herald's-tabard-and-knight's-surcoat medieval-herald's-and-knight's-tabard-and-College-of-Arms tabard-and-herald's-tabard surfaces under medieval-herald's-and-knight's-tabard-and-College-of-Arms College-of-Arms-and-Bayeux-Tapestry heraldic-tabard-light. Sits at the modifier-and-textile end of the grid, parallel to kilt and cape in usage.

From the Old Spanish cremesin, itself from the Arabic qirmiz — the kermes scale insect, dried and ground into a brilliant carmine dye prized in the medieval Mediterranean. For centuries the most expensive red on a draper's shelf, reserved for cardinals, kings, and the cloth that gave English the word crimson. Cooler than scarlet, deeper than rose; the color of pomegranate seeds and a serious occasion.