[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

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.
      1913 webster

            arraying with reflected purple and gold
            the clouds that on his western throne attend. --
                                                  milton.
      1913 webster

   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.
         1913 webster

   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.
      1913 webster

            thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of
            fine twined linen, and purple, and scarlet. --ex.
                                                  xxvi. 1.
      1913 webster

   3. hence: imperial sovereignty; royal rank, dignity, or
      favor; loosely and colloquially, any exalted station;
      great wealth. "he was born in the purple." --gibbon.
      1913 webster

   4. a cardinalate. see cardinal.
      1913 webster

   5. 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.
      1913 webster

   6. zool. any shell of the genus purpura.
      1913 webster

   7. pl.med. see purpura.
      1913 webster

   8. pl. a disease of wheat. same as earcockle.
      1913 webster

   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.
         1913 webster

   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.
      1913 webster
see also:
purples porphyry purpure cardinal basilarchia limenitis 
basilarchia arthemis ursula purpura earcockle french purple 
cudbear purple of cassius cassius purple of mollusca to be born in the purple 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

cassius \cas"sius\, n. from the name of the discoverer, a.
   cassius, a german physician of the 17th centry.
   a brownish purple pigment, obtained by the action of some
   compounds of tin upon certain salts of gold. it is used in
   painting and staining porcelain and glass to give a beautiful
   purple color. commonly called purple of cassius.
   1913 webster
see also:
purple of cassius 

Cassius >> C Words
Cassius, definition of term: Cassius
cassius_pag1.html

Purple >> P Words
Purple, definition of term: Purple
purple_pag1.html

Purple Martin >> P Words
Purple Martin, definition of term: Purple Martin
purple+martin_pag1.html

Purple Finch >> P Words
Purple Finch, definition of term: Purple Finch
purple+finch_pag1.html

Purple Heart >> P Words
Purple Heart, definition of term: Purple Heart
purple+heart_pag1.html