Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Mauve \Mauve\, n. [F., mallow, L. malva. So named from the
   similarity of the color to that of the petals of common
   mallow, Malva sylvestris. See {Mallow}.]
   A color of a delicate purple, violet, or lilac.

   {Mauve aniline} (Chem.), a dyestuff produced artificially by
      the oxidation of commercial aniline, and the first
      discovered of the so-called coal-tar, or aniline, dyes. It
      consists of the sulphate of mauve["i]ne, and is a dark
      brown or bronze amorphous powder, which dissolves to a
      beatiful purple color. Called also {aniline purple},
      {violine}, etc.

Source : WordNet®

mauve
     adj : of a pale to moderate grayish violet color
     n : a moderate purple