Definition of the word teal

The precise origin of the word "teal" is not entirely clear, but it is believed to have originated from the Old English word "tāl," which referred to a specific type of duck, now called the common teal. The Old English word "tāl" eventually evolved into the Middle English word "tele," which eventually came to refer to both the bird and its dark green-blue mottled plumage, which is similar in color to the modern-day color referred to as teal. The exact hue of teal that we know today can be traced back to the 19th century, when chocolate manufacturer Robert Walker opened a dye works in Scotland and began producing a range of new colors, including a greenish-blue shade called "teal green." Although the origins of the word "teal" are rooted in the color and appearance of a bird, its meaning has since broadened to encompass a wide range of shades falling within the spectrum of blue-green hues, including various shades of turquoise and aquamarine.