British spelling of 'colors'; the visual perception resulting from light, or a flag representing a team, country, or group.
From Old French 'colour,' from Latin 'color,' of uncertain origin (possibly related to 'celare' meaning to cover or hide). The British spelling 'colour' preserved the French spelling, while American English simplified it to 'color.' The word has been used since medieval times to describe hues and flags.
British people and Americans literally spell 'color' differently because of a 1755 spelling guide by Samuel Johnson that decided to drop the 'u'—and that one man's choice changed how millions of English speakers spell it forever!
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