ashy

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   pale or gray like ash, especially because of illness, shock, or fear

   Some color returned slowly to the patient's ashy cheeks.

2. 2
   adj

   containing, covered with, or resembling ash

   An ashy layer coated the stones beside the fire.

3. 3
   adj

   having dry, pale-looking skin because dead surface cells are visible

   The cold weather left the skin on his hands dry and ashy.

From Middle English asshy or asky, formed from ash + -y. The literal sense describes something made of or covered with ashes; the color comparison produced the senses "ash-gray" and "unnaturally pale," while the skin sense refers to a grayish appearance caused by dryness.

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