Why is cowardice yellow

Etymology of yellow. Online Etymology Dictionary. Harper, Douglas. Definitions of yellow. Synonyms: yellowed. Synonyms: yellowness. Dictionary entries near yellow yeast yeasty yegg yell yelling yellow yellow journalism yellow ribbon yellowcake yellowtail yellowy. Terms of Service Privacy Policy. Do 'blue Tories' lack joy and honest communication, is 'red Labour' motivated by anger, and are 'yellow Liberals' afflicted by a sense of purposelessness?

The continued and appropriate use of colourful expressions is evidence founded, not on scientific knowledge, but on instinctive biophilic awareness.

S Dudley, Sheffield, S Yorks. I CAME across the following in an edition of Chamber's Journal Saturday, July 12, ; no : 'In an article in the Journal of Psychological Medicine on Baron Feuchtersleben's Principles of Medical Psychology showing how the mind is influenced by a mechanical calling, there is this curious sentence: Rosch and Esquirol confirm from observation that indigo-dyers become melancholy; and those who dye scarlet choleric.

Their observation regarding indigo-dyers affords a strong confirmation of the statement of that arch-quack, Paracelsus, who declared blue to be injurious.

This would seem to suggest that our phrase 'the blue devils' may derive from a scientific fact. Some years ago I was involved in the rehabilitation of a group of infant chimpanzees which had been confiscated from illegal dealers. The young chimps were being held in rather dreary surroundings before being moved to a rehabilitation camp in the forest, and I devised a series of behavioural tests, as much to keep the chimps from being bored as to advance scientific knowledge.

Among these tests was one on colour preferences: wooden blocks, painted in a variety of colours, were put in front of the young chimps, and their choices were noted. Initially, the results were what would be expected from human children: a preference for bright primary colours. But when results were correlated with other factors, some interesting results were forthcoming. It was interesting to note that during this period, one of the group died. She had been maltreated by the person from whom she was confiscated, and was the weakling of the group.

On the day of her death, all the other chimps chose dull, subdued colours. It was also interesting that the male self-appointed leader of the group always sought, by pushing and elbowing, to grab the most favoured colour, but was often outwitted by the eldest female.

As a gent, of course, I obliged. Great Big Stees. While at the superbowl game were you cheering for the "Yellow" gold and red team? If so my condolences. Ravens are inna black shade right? ChessPraxis Cowboy From Hell. Also, Judas Iscariot one of the most well-known traitors is usually portrayed in med I would just naturally assume it meant they were sick or ill, meaning weak.

Then there is the connotation of cowardice and being yellow from peeing from fear. Originally posted by ChessPraxis I have always been interested in the origins of sayings. Yellow is the most perceptive colour to the human eye obviously, missing the perceptions, of course.

Edit: Mary Shelley also depicted Frankenstein's monster as being yellow skinned. I wonder what the Eastersn Asians' perceptions of that are?

Originally posted by mikelom Yellow is the most perceptive colour to the human eye obviously, missing the perceptions, of course. Thanks, Mike. Back to Top. Log In to Daily Chess. Email address. Reset password New user.