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缇, the simplified form of 緹, is a phono-semantic compound: the silk radical 纟 (written 糹 in traditional) on the left indicates a connection to textiles, while the phonetic component 是 (shì or tí) on the right provides the sound. Originally referring to a type of woven silk garment, the character's primary meaning shifted to the vivid orange-red or crimson colour that the silk was dyed. Historically, this colour was worn by certain military guards and cavalrymen in ancient China, making 缇 a specialised term for both the reddish-orange hue and the official uniforms of those units.
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