Found 1 items, similar to Purple of mollusca.
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Definition: Purple of mollusca
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.
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Arraying with reflected purple and gold
The clouds that on his western throne attend. --
Milton.
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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.
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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.
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Thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of
fine twined linen, and purple, and scarlet. --Ex.
xxvi. 1.
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3. Hence: Imperial sovereignty; royal rank, dignity, or
favor; loosely and colloquially, any exalted station;
great wealth.
“He was born in the purple.” --Gibbon.
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4. A cardinalate. See
Cardinal.
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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 (
Basilarchia arthemis
). See Illust. under
Ursula.
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6. (Zo["o]l.) Any shell of the genus
Purpura.
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7. pl.(Med.) See
Purpura.
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8. pl. A disease of wheat. Same as
Earcockle.
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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.
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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.
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