purple

Where does the word "purple" come from? It comes from Greek porphyra, passing through Latin before entering English (1000s).

Purple’s story begins in Greek: porphyra meant “purple dye.” Greek name for the shellfish that yielded Tyrian purple, worn by emperors. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as purpura. Roman law restricted full purple togas to emperors. It reached English by 1000s as purple. Old English 'purpul' borrowed it through Latin; 'born to the purple' means royal birth. Today, purple means a colour between red and blue.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient porphyra "purple dye", Greek name for the shellfish that yielded Tyrian purple, worn by emperors.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient purpura "purple dye, purple cloth", Roman law restricted full purple togas to emperors.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1000s purple "purple", Old English 'purpul' borrowed it through Latin; 'born to the purple' means royal birth.