sallow

/ˈsæloʊ/

/ˈsæləʊ/

Other forms: sallows; sallower; sallowed; sallowing; sallowest

Sallow means unhealthy in appearance — often yellow in color — and is almost invariably used to describe someone's complexion. His smile was as engaging as ever, but from his sallow complexion, I knew he was sick.

Usually we say that when someone is sick they turn "green." You could also say their skin takes on a sallow look, and you'd mean the same thing. Sallow also describes the way someone looks if they have lost blood or are pale from fever. This word comes from Germanic roots meaning "dusky" or "dirty."

Definitions of sallow

1. adjective

   unhealthy looking
   synonyms: sickly

   unhealthy

   not in or exhibiting good health in body or mind
2. verb

   cause to become sallow
   “The illness has sallowed her face”

   type of:

   discolor, discolour

   cause to lose or change color
3. noun

   any of several Old World shrubby broad-leaved willows having large catkins; some are important sources for tanbark and charcoal
   types:

   Salix caprea, florist's willow, goat willow, pussy willow

   much-branched Old World willow having large catkins and relatively large broad leaves

   type of:

   willow, willow tree

   any of numerous deciduous trees and shrubs of the genus Salix