purple

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
purple/ˈpɜːpl/

▶noun

• 1 a colour that is a mixture of red and blue.

• 2 (also Tyrian purple) a crimson dye obtained from some molluscs, formerly used for fabric worn by an emperor or senior magistrate in ancient Rome or Byzantium.

  ■ (the purple) (in ancient Rome) a position of rank, authority, or privilege.

• 3 the scarlet official dress of a cardinal.

▶adjective of the colour purple. ▶verb become or make purple in colour.

– phrases
born in (or to) the purple born into a reigning family or privileged class.

– derivatives
purpleness noun,
purplish adjective,
purply adjective.

– origin OE, alt. of purpre, from L. purpura ‘purple’, from Gk porphura, denoting molluscs that yielded a crimson dye, also cloth dyed with this.