n. 1 any of various pigments made from blue or green basic copper carbonate. 2 any similar pigment made from smalt. 3 a shade of blue or green given by these. blue bice a shade of blue between ultramarine and azure derived from smalt. green bice a yellowish green colour derived by adding yellow orpiment to smalt.
[ orig. = brownish grey, f. OF bis dark grey, of unkn. orig. ]