The assumption of a root *√ḱu̯el ‘dark, black’ offers new possible etymologies for Arm. šaɫax, Gk. πηλός, Toch. B kwele, Hitt. kuu̯aliu-, Gk. κύλα, Lat. culex ‘gnat’, and Lat. color, whose derivational background is discussed in the course of this paper.