born in the purple Definition

purple
noun

1. A colour that is a mixture of blue and red.
2. historical
A crimson dye obtained from various shellfish.
3. Crimson cloth, or a robe made from it, worn eg by emperors and cardinals, symbolic of their authority.
4. High rank; power.

Form: the purple

adj

1. Purple-coloured.
2. Said of writing: especially fine in style; over-elaborate; flowery.

Idiom: born in the purple

Born into a royal or noble family.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon: related to Greek porphyra a dye-yielding shellfish.