Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Purple \Pur"ple\, 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}.]
   1. A color formed by, or resembling that formed by, a
      combination of the primary colors red and blue.

            Arraying with reflected purple and gold The clouds
            that on his western throne attend.    -- Milton.

   Note: 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.

   2. 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.

            Thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of
            fine twined linen, and purple, and scarlet. --Ex.
                                                  xxvi. 1.

   3. Hence: Imperial sovereignty; royal rank, dignity, or
      favor; loosely and colloquially, any exalted station;
      great wealth. ``He was born in the purple.'' --Gibbon.

   4. A cardinalate. See {Cardinal}.

   5. (Zo["o]l.) Any species of large butterflies, usually
      marked with purple or blue, of the genus {Basilarchia}
      (formerly {Limenitis}) as, the banded purple ({B.
      arthemis}). See Illust. under {Ursula}.

   6. (Zo["o]l.) Any shell of the genus Purpura.

   7. pl.(Med.) See {Purpura}.

   8. pl. A disease of wheat. Same as {Earcockle}.

   Note: 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.

   {French purple}. (Chem.) Same as {Cudbear}.

   {Purple of Cassius}. See {Cassius}.

   {Purple of mollusca} (Zo["o]l.), 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.