Brunette

Brunette is the feminine of French brunet, which is a diminutive of brun, brune, meaning brown or dark-haired, ultimately from Latin BRVNVS (brown). It therefore means "little dark-haired girl", but in English usage it has largely lost the diminutive meaning, and simply refers to any dark-haired girl or woman (which is simply brune in French). Brunette in common usage refers to dark brown or black hair, especially dark brown hair. People disagree over whether black or light brown hair counts as brunette. Brunette can probably also refer to lighter shades of brown hair, but isn't as associated with brunette. Women with lighter shades of brown hair may actually be referred to as "light brunettes".

See also

• blonde
• red hair
• pigment
• skin
• human skin colour
• hair colour
• melanin