isabelle

pale yellow; cream-coloured (of horses)

adjective ee-za-BEL Rare

Usage Note

Isabelle describes a pale sandy or cream coat colour in horses, roughly equivalent to English 'palomino' or 'dun'. It is invariable in the adjectival sense (a colour adjective used as an invariable epithet): une jument isabelle, des chevaux isabelle. The colour name may derive from the legend of Archduchess Isabella who supposedly refused to change her linen for three years.

Examples

"Il montait une jument isabelle très calme."

Natural Translation

He was riding a very calm cream-coloured mare.

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