Electric Glint Goldenrod

From the Greek elektron, amber — the substance whose static-electric properties were observed by Thales of Miletus. Used as a color modifier since the late nineteenth century after electric light made certain saturated colors feel attention-demanding. Electric blue, electric pink: the implication is hot luminance combined with optical impact. Sits at the bright-bucket extreme.

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.

Solidago, the late-summer wildflower of North American meadows whose tall sprays of small yellow flowers signal the end of the growing season. The color refers to the flower head at full bloom: a warm, slightly muted yellow-orange with the matte finish of small clustered florets. Cooler than mustard, deeper than dandelion. The state flower of Kentucky and Nebraska, a pollinator magnet, and the original native dye for early American homespun.