Etymology of the English word purple
the English word
purplederived from the Latin word
purpura (purple color, purple; purple dye)
derived from the Byzantine Greek word
porphura, πορφύρα (the 'purple' mussel; the red-blue color itself, and finally a garment dyed with it)
Derivations in English
empurple,
purpleheart,
purplish,
purpled,
purplingCognates
Dutch
purper, French
pourpre, German
Purpur, Icelandic
purpuri, Italian
porpora, Provençal
porpra, Spanish
purpura, Swedish
purpurUsage
Word found in Old English, Modern English
