purple \pur"ple\, a.
   1. exhibiting or possessing the color called purple, much
      esteemed for its richness and beauty; of a deep red, or
      red and blue color; as, a purple robe.
      1913 webster

   2. imperial; regal; -- so called from the color having been
      an emblem of imperial authority.
      1913 webster

            hide in the dust thy purple pride.    --shelley.
      1913 webster

   3. blood-red; bloody.
      1913 webster

            may such purple tears be alway shed.  --shak.
      1913 webster

            i view a field of blood,
            and tiber rolling with a purple blood. --dryden.
      1913 webster

   purple bird zool., the european purple gallinule. see
      under gallinule.

   purple copper ore. min. see bornite.

   purple grackle zool., the crow blackbird. see under
      crow.

   purple martin. see under martin.

   purple sandpiper. see under sandpiper.

   purple shell. see ianthina.
      1913 webster
see also:
purple bird gallinule purple copper ore bornite purple grackle crow 
purple martin martin purple sandpiper sandpiper purple shell 
ianthina 

bornite \bor"nite\, n. named after von born, a mineralogist.
   min.
   a valuable ore of copper, containing copper, iron, and
   sulphur; -- also called purple copper ore or
   erubescite, in allusion to the colors shown upon the
   slightly tarnished surface.
   1913 webster
see also:
purple copper ore erubescite