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.
 2. Imperial; regal; -- so called from the color having been an emblem of imperial authority.
    Hide in the dust thy purple pride.   --Shelley.
 3. Blood-red; bloody.
    May such purple tears be alway shed.   --Shak.
 I view a field of blood,
 And Tiber rolling with a purple blood.   --Dryden.
 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.
 Bor·nite n.  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.
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