'ash-colored' originates from English, specifically a compound of the words 'ash' and 'colored', where 'ash' comes from Old English 'æsc' (referring to ash/ashes) and 'colored' derives from Old French 'colour' (from Latin 'color') meaning 'color, hue'.

'ash' came from Old English word 'æsc' (also seen in Proto-Germanic '*askaz') meaning 'ashes' or 'ash tree', while 'colored' developed from Old French 'colour' (from Latin 'color'); these elements combined in Modern English to form the compound adjective 'ash-colored'.

Initially it referred to having the hue or appearance of ash (the residue of burning); over time the meaning has remained essentially the same, describing a pale gray or grayish color.