'grayish-white' originates from the combination of 'gray' and 'white', where 'gray' meant 'a color between black and white' and 'white' meant 'the color of milk or fresh snow'.

'grayish-white' evolved from the Old English words 'grǣg' (gray) and 'hwīt' (white), eventually forming the modern English term 'grayish-white'.

Initially, it meant 'a color between gray and white', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.