orichalceous

English

Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis), showing orichalceous wings

Etymology

From New Latin orichalceus, from orichalcum.

Adjective

orichalceous (comparative more orichalceous, superlative most orichalceous)

1. Pertaining to, or resembling, orichalch; having a colour or lustre like that of brass.
   • 1901, Biologia Centrali-Americana:

     Thoracic dorsum black, with orichalceous-pollinose stripes

   • 1826, William Kirby, William Spence, An Introduction to Entomology: Or Elements of the Natural History of Insects: with Plates, volume 4, page 283:

     Orichalceous (Orichalceus). A splendour intermediate between that of gold and brass. Ex. upper wings of Noctua Chrysitis.

References

• “orichalceous”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.