Both my Aunty R (who used to be a professional dressmaker) and my MIL ( a keen amateur) have used that word to describe a shade of brown in my hearing, and I know it was a real term used to describe a shade of brown. I have advised both of them never to use it in a shop, or in public though, as I'd hate for them to have any hassle when no offence was meant
When D (MIL) used the term in front of Becky, B's mouth flew open and the colour drained from her face That's the power some words have these days, I suppose