- scarlet (n.)
- mid-13c., "rich cloth" (often, but not necessarily, bright red in color), from a shortened form of Old French escarlate (12c., Modern French écarlate), from Medieval Latin scarlatum "scarlet, cloth of scarlet" (cf. Italian scarlatto, Spanish escarlate), probably via a Middle Eastern source (cf. Arabic siqillat "fine cloth"), from Medieval Greek and ultimately from Late Latin sigillatus "clothes and cloth decorated with small symbols or figures," literally "sealed," past participle of sigillare, from the root of sign (n.). In reference to color, attested from late 14c. Scarlet lady, etc. (Isa. i:18, Rev. xvii:1-5) is from notion of "red with shame or indignation." Scarlet fever is from 1670s.