Commanding Kilt Crimson

Latin commendāre, to entrust / order — present-participle of command. As a color modifier, commanding implies a saturated-and-authoritative quality where the hue claims visual leadership of its surrounding palette. Sits at the bold-and-authoritative end of the grid, parallel to authoritative and imperial 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 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.