one of the colours called simple or primary; being one of the shades into which the light naturally divides itself when refracted through a prism. See Chromatics.

dyeing, see that article.—Some reckon six kinds or casts of red, viz. scarlet-red, crimson-red, madder-red, half-grain red, lively orange-red, and scarlet of cochineal: but it is easy to see that there can be but one proper species of red; namely, the reflection of the light exactly in such a manner as it is refracted by the prism; all other shades being adulterations of that pure colour, with yellow, brown, &c.

heraldry. See Gules.

Red-Breast, in ornithology. See Motacilla.

Red-Book of the exchequer, an ancient record or manuscript volume, in the keeping of the king's remembrancer, containing divers miscellaneous treaties relating to the times before the conquest.