Of a person, his or her eyes, complexion, etc.: of an unhealthy yellowish colour, typically as a result of old age or disease. Cf. sallow, adj., jaun…

Of the skin or complexion: Having a sickly yellow or brownish yellow colour.

Originally: affected with, or having a temperament determined by, adust humours (see sense 1a). In later use: having a melancholy character or…

‘Supposed to be a kind of sallow colour’ (Nares).

having a yellow complexion.