Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Carnation

Carnation , noun

[French carnation the flesh tints in a painting, It carnagione, from Latin carnatio fleshiness, from caro, carnis, flesh. See Carnal.]

1.
The natural color of flesh; rosy pink.
Her complexion of the delicate carnation. — Ld. Lytton
2.
(Painting) Those parts of a picture in which the human body or any part of it is represented in full color; the flesh tints.
The flesh tints in painting are termed carnations. — Fairholt
3.
(Botany) A species of Dianthus (Dianthus Caryophyllus) or pink, having very beautiful flowers of various colors, esp. white and usually a rich, spicy scent.