Utilitarian Glint Mint

Latin ūtilitās, usefulness — adjectival suffix -ian. As a color modifier, utilitarian implies a clear-and-purpose-fit-and-stripped-down quality, the crisp color of Shaker-and-Quaker anti-ornamental functional-and-no-frills craft tradition. Sits at the crisp-and-functional end of the grid, parallel to functional and workmanlike in usage.

Middle English glent, to-shine-or-glance. As a color modifier, glint implies a brief-and-glancing-and-pinpoint-shine quality, the visual register of Scottish-burn-and-anvil-spark-glint hand-brief-and-glancing-and-pinpoint-shine Scottish-burn-and-anvil-spark-and-flint-strike glinted-and-brief-and-glancing surfaces under Scottish-burn-and-anvil-spark-and-flint-strike sun-on-water-and-forge-spark fleeting-glance-light. Sits at the modifier-and-mood end of the grid, parallel to gleam and spark in usage.

The genus Mentha — peppermint, spearmint, apple mint, water mint — the cooling herb whose menthol gives it that quality at the molecular level. The color refers to fresh peppermint leaves before drying: a clean, slightly cool green with the matte finish of trichome-rich leaf surface. Lighter than basil, cooler than parsley, with the mojito-and-Pimm's association of a herb tied to summer drinks across two continents.