Tyrian purple

noun

Tyr·​i·​an purple ˈtir-ē-ən- How to pronounce Tyrian purple (audio)
: a crimson or purple dye that is related to indigo, was obtained by the ancient Greeks and Romans from gastropod mollusks, and is now made synthetically

Examples of Tyrian purple in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
A long time ago Ancient Greeks and the Romans considered Tyrian purple, first developed in the Bronze Age, an elite, royal color. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 29 June 2024 In this workshop, ancient Greeks produced the vibrant pigment known as Mycenaean purple—or, as the Romans called it, Tyrian purple. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 June 2024 The common name of the dyestuff, Tyrian purple, derives from the habitat of the mollusks, which the Phoenicians purportedly began harvesting in the 16th century B.C. in the city-state of Tyre in present-day Lebanon. Franz Lidz, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 Despite the equal access, to this day many countries around the world still associate the Phoenicians’ Tyrian purple with royalty, wealth, and splendor. Mark Woolmer, National Geographic, 24 Sep. 2020 The city of Tyre flourished for much of the first millennium B.C., thanks in part to the lucrative trade in Tyrian purple. Mark Woolmer, National Geographic, 24 Sep. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Tyre, maritime city of ancient Phoenicia

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Tyrian purple was circa 1586

Dictionary Entries Near Tyrian purple

Cite this Entry

“Tyrian purple.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Tyrian%20purple. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!