Spartan Flit 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 Norse flytja, to-move-or-shift. As a color modifier, flit implies a quick-darting-and-light-winged quality, the visual register of swallow-and-warbler-flit hand-quick-darting-and-light-winged swallow-and-warbler-and-darting-finch flitted-and-quick-darting-and-light-winged surfaces under swallow-and-warbler-and-darting-finch summer-eaves-and-hedgerow-and-meadow-edge dappled-flight-light. Sits at the modifier-and-mood end of the grid, parallel to hover and flutter 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.