Orange (colour)

For other uses, see Orange (disambiguation).

The colour orange occurs between red and yellow in the visible spectrum at a wavelength of about 620–585 nanometres. It is the same colour as the fruit for which it was named. Before the orange fruit was introduced to the English-speaking world, the colour was referred to (in Old English) as geoluhread, which transliterates into Modern English variously as yellow-red or yellored (pronounced the same).

With natural colouring materials such as paints or crayons, orange or "yellored" is a secondary colour that can be derived from primary colours by mixing red (or more accurately, magenta) and yellow.

This is the only named color defined in CSS that is not also defined in HTML 4.01.

Usage, symbolism, colloquial expressions

• In English heraldry, orange denotes strength, honor, and generosity.

• Orange is the national colour of The Netherlands due to their monarchs originating from the principality of Orange-Nassau. It is the primary colour of many of the national sports teams. The nickname of the Dutch national soccer team is Oranje, which is Dutch for orange.

• Orange signifies Protestantism in Northern Ireland (see Orange Order) and Hinduism in India, as is used as a rallying color by Jewish settlers in the Gaza Strip.

• Orange is the party colour of
  • Fidesz-MPSZ in Hungary
  • People First Party, Republic of China (Taiwan)
  • New Democratic Party, Canada
  • June List, Sweden
  • Bharatiya Janata Party, India
  • Pora or "High Time", Ukraine—see Orange Revolution
  • Liberal Party, United Kingdom

Variations of the colour orange

The colour orange is often used for visibility enhancement.

Orange pigments are largely in the ochre or cadmium families.

Brown is actually on the orange part of the colour spectrum.

International orange

The standard colour, international or blaze orange is principally used and is thought to provide optimum contrast to colours existing in nature. Hats, garments, vests and accessories are available for hunters and highway workers and others whose safety relies on being seen from a distance. Telephone and fibre optic cables are often encased in orange polyethylene tubing. The Golden Gate Bridge is painted international orange.

Burnt orange

Burnt orange is one variation that is used as a school colour of the University of Texas at Austin. Here is a sample of burnt orange: [1]

See also

• List of colours