Any of various colours ranging in shade between red and violet.(a) A shade of crimson, spec. (also Tyrian purple) the colour of a dye obtained from…

A cloth of a rich purple colour associated with the French kings (cf. royal purple n. adj.(a) at royal, adj. n.compounds 1); this colour itself…

= colour-de-roy, n. Also as adj.

Heraldry. The tincture purpure, as used in the fanciful blazon of arms of sovereign houses. Now historical.

The quality or condition of being purple in colour. Also figurative: richness, floridness.