“Ebon” is an adjective used to describe something as black, deep brown-black, or exceptionally dark. It is more poetic and less common than “black,” often suggesting richness, depth, or a striking visual contrast. In William Watson’s poem “The Key-Board,” it describes the black keys of a piano, which are personified alongside the white keys as “slaves” serving the musician, or “Queen.”

“Ebon” comes from “ebony,” a very dark, valuable wood; both words ultimately derive from an ancient Egyptian term transmitted through Greek and Latin. The word is most often found in poetry, elevated prose, and older literature. In ordinary modern speech, “black” or “very dark” is usually more natural. Related terms include “ebony,” “dusky,” “dark,” “sable,” and “inky.” “Pallid,” used in the poem, is a contrasting term meaning unusually pale. “Ebon” describes colour or darkness; it should not automatically be treated as a synonym for every cultural, racial, or historical use of “black.” Context determines its meaning.