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high yellow en · ADJ

Etymology

After the golden-yellow skin tone of some multiracial people. "High" is usually considered a reference to a social class system in which skin color (and associated ancestries) is a major factor, placing those of lighter skin (with more white ancestry) at the top and those of darker skin at the bottom.

Meanings

1. Of a black person, having a light skin tone.
   • Now, you gonna get your little narrow, high yellow ass back into the theater and enjoy Soul Plane 2. 2007 October 8, 12:23 from the start, in ...Or Die Trying (The Boondocks), season 2, episode 1, spoken by Granddad (John Witherspoon):

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
most high yellow	Degree=Sup		lexicographic
more high yellow	Degree=Cmp		lexicographic

Relateds

colorism · redbone

high yellow en · NOUN

Etymology

After the golden-yellow skin tone of some multiracial people. "High" is usually considered a reference to a social class system in which skin color (and associated ancestries) is a major factor, placing those of lighter skin (with more white ancestry) at the top and those of darker skin at the bottom.

Meanings

1. (qualifier:sometimes racially offensive) A black person with light skin with yellow undertones.
   • Being a light-skinned girl, you get called names. You get called 'lite-brite', you get called 'high yellow', 'redbone'. 2014 January 10, Colorism: The Secret Shame (Oprah's Lifeclass), season 5, episode 2, via OWN:

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
high yellows	Number=Plur		lexicographic

Synonyms

high yaller