Sienna is from the word Italian 'siena' meaning 'earth'. Use of this word dates back to 1786.

The origin of the word is from the town of Sinope which lies upon the Black Sea coast of Anatolia (modern Turkey). This area is well known for its reddish-brown pigment that is found in the soil. The adjective 'sinopis' was used to designate that pigment and is today known as 'sienna' or 'burnt sienna'.

The pigment itself contains oxides of iron and manganese and is brownish yellow. Once burnt it becomes an orange red or reddish brown.

Color codes found in rgb.txt:

name         hex    r   g   b
sienna  0xA0522D  160  82  45
sienna1 0xFF8247  255 130  71
sienna2 0xEE7942  238 121  66
sienna3 0xCD6839  205 104  57
sienna4 0x8B4726  139  71  38
0xA0522D is a named HTML Color that is recognized by many browsers as 'sienna'. See Named HTML Colors for an example of this color.

Si*en"na (?), n. [It. terra di Siena, fr. Siena in Italy.] Chem.

Clay that is colored red or brown by the oxides of iron or manganese, and used as a pigment. It is used either in the raw state or burnt.

Burnt sienna, sienna made of a much redder color by the action of fire. -- Raw sienna, sienna in its natural state, of a transparent yellowish brown color.

 

© Webster 1913.

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