PALE GRAY can be described as a combination of three words: PEARL, ASHY, and ASH. PEARL is a 5-letter word that refers to a hard, iridescent substance produced within the shells of certain mollusks. ASHY is a 4-letter word that means having a grayish or dull color. Finally, ASH is a 3-letter word that is the powdery residue left after the burning of organic matter. Together, these three words describe a light shade of gray, which is often associated with a dull or lifeless color.