GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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1.       
   Purple , n.; pl. Purples . [OE. purpre, pourpre, OF. purpre, porpre, pourpre, F. pourpre, L. purpura purple fish, purple dye, fr. Gr.  the purple fish, a shell from the purple dye was obtained, purple dye; cf.  dark (said of the sea), purple,  to grow dark (said of the sea), to be troubled; perh. akin to L. furere to rage, E. fury: cf. AS. purpure. Cf. Porphyry, Purpure.]
   A color formed by, or resembling that formed by, a combination of the primary colors red and blue.
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   Arraying with reflected purple and gold
   The clouds that on his western throne attend.
    Milton.
   
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   ☞ The ancient words which are translated purple are supposed to have been used for the color we call crimson. In the gradations of color as defined in art, purple is a mixture of red and blue. When red predominates it is called violet, and when blue predominates, hyacinth.
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   Cloth dyed a purple color, or a garment of such color; especially, a purple robe, worn as an emblem of rank or authority; specifically, the purple rode or mantle worn by Roman emperors as the emblem of imperial dignity; as, to put on the imperial purple.
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   Thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and purple, and scarlet.
   Ex. xxvi. 1.
   
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   Hence: Imperial sovereignty; royal rank, dignity, or favor; loosely and colloquially, any exalted station; great wealth. “He was born in the purple.”
   Gibbon.
   
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   A cardinalate. See Cardinal.
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   (Zool.) Any species of large butterflies, usually marked with purple or blue, of the genus Basilarchia (formerly Limenitis) as, the banded purple (Basilarchia arthemis). See Illust. under Ursula.
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   (Zool.) Any shell of the genus Purpura.
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   pl.(Med.) See Purpura.
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   pl. A disease of wheat. Same as Earcockle.
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   ☞ Purple is sometimes used in composition, esp. with participles forming words of obvious signification; as, purple-colored, purple-hued, purple-stained, purple-tinged, purple-tinted, and the like.
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   French purple. (Chem.) Same as Cudbear. -- Purple of Cassius. See Cassius. -- Purple of mollusca (Zool.), a coloring matter derived from certain mollusks, which dyes wool, etc., of a purple or crimson color, and is supposed to be the substance of the famous Tyrian dye. It is obtained from Ianthina, and from several species of Purpura, and Murex. -- To be born in the purple, to be of princely birth; to be highborn.
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