indigo

 
Pronunciation: /ˈɪndɪgəʊ/

noun (plural indigos or indigoes)

  • 1a tropical plant of the pea family, which was formerly widely cultivated as a source of dark blue dye.
    • Genus Indigofera, family Leguminosae: several species, in particular I. tinctoria
  • 2 [mass noun] the dark blue dye obtained from the indigo plant.
  • a colour between blue and violet in the spectrum: the deepest indigo of the horizon

Origin:

mid 16th century: from Portuguese índigo, via Latin from Greek indikon, from indikos 'Indian (dye)' (see Indic)