Stalwart Jolly Crimson

Old English stǣl-wyrðe, stable-and-worthy. As a color modifier, stalwart implies a saturated-and-loyal-and-firm quality where the hue carries the dependable-and-trustworthy visual presence of a Knight-Templar guard. Sits at the bold-and-firm end of the grid, parallel to steadfast and firm in usage.

Old French jolif, festive-and-pretty. As a color modifier, jolly implies a hearty-and-warm-and-festive quality, the visual register of Dickens-Christmas-and-Falstaffian-jolly hand-hearty-and-warm-and-festive Dickens-Christmas-and-Falstaffian-and-Pickwickian jollied-and-hearty-and-warm-and-festive surfaces under Dickens-Christmas-and-Falstaffian-and-Pickwickian goose-and-plum-pudding-and-roaring-hearth Christmas-Eve-light. Sits at the modifier-and-mood end of the grid, parallel to merry and mirth 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.