Umber

n. [Ger. umber, umbererde, umbra, It. terra d' ombra, Sp. umbra, umbla, Fr. ombre, N. Lat. umbra, from Lat. umbra, shade, or from Umbria, a district in Italy, where it is said to have been first obtained.]

1Sense 1. (Min.) An ocherous ore of iron, of a brown or blackish-brown color, consisting of oxide of iron, oxide of manganese, silica, alumina, and water. It is often used as a pigment, and sometimes in coloring porcelain.

2Sense 2. A variety of peat or brown coal, of a similar color, used as a pigment. Brande.

a. Of, or resembling, umber; dark-brown; dark-colored; dark.

Their harps are of the umber shade That hides the blush of waking day. Drake.

n. [N. Lat. Scopus umbretta, Fr. ombrette, from Lat. umbra, Fr. ombre, shade, umber; so called from its dark-brown color.] (Ornith.) The Scopus umbretta, a grallatorial bird of the heron family, inhabiting Africa. Swainson.

n. [Fr. ombre, umbre, Sp. sombra, N. Lat. umbra fluviatilis. See supra.] A fish of the salmon family; Thymallus vulgaris, a fresh-water fish of fine flavor; grayling.

v. t. To color with umber; to shade or darken.