Crossword Genius

Colourful but dirty (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

blue

This might be a double definition.

'colourful' is the first definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?

'dirty' is the second definition.
('blue' can be similar in meaning to 'dirty')

'but' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for blue that I've seen before include "Sky-coloured" , "Such humour < makes conservative" , "Red-headed Australian" , "Miserable; waste (money)" , "Colour - smutty" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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