▪ I. violet, n.1
(ˈvaɪəlɪt)
Forms: 4– violet (6 Sc. violat), 4–7 violett, 5–6 vyolet (5 -ett, wyolet); 5–6 violette (5–6 -ete), vyolette (5 -ytte); 5 vyalett, vielet, 6 vilet, 7–9 vi'let.
[In senses 1–2, a. OF. violete, violette (mod.F. violette, = It. violetta, Sp. and Pg. violeta), dim. of viole viola1. In senses 3–4, a. OF. violete, vielete, vilette fem., or violet, vielet, vilet (mod.F. violet) masc., of similar origin.]
1. A plant or flower of the genus Viola, esp. V. odorata, the sweet-smelling violet, growing wild, and cultivated in gardens; the flowers are usually purplish blue, mauve, or white. a. In sing. without article or with the.
| c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 3061 Mirie it is in time of June,..Violet & rose flour Woneþ þan in maidens bour. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) I. 261 Of þat hille [the stones] smelleþ swete as violet. c 1400 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483) iv. xxviii. 74 The white lely, the rede rose, the fresshe violet. c 1440 Pallad. on Husb. i. 1014 In busshis, treen, & herbis they may fynde Herbe origane, and tyme, and violette. c 1480 Henryson Fables, Lion & Mouse iii, The rosis reid..and the purpour violat bla. c 1530 Crt. of Love ccvi, Eke eche at other threw the floures bright, The primerose, the violete, and the gold. 1589 Greene Menaphon (Arb.) 36 There growes..the cowsloppe, the primrose, and the violet. 1667 Milton P.L. iv. 700 Underfoot the Violet, Crocus, and Hyacinth with rich inlay Broiderd the ground. a 1718 Prior Garland i, The Pride of ev'ry Grove I chose, The Violet sweet, and Lilly fair. 1785 Martyn Lett. Bot. xxxi. (1794) 477 Antirrhinum, Fumitory, Violet, Impatiens, and Orchis. 1838 T. Thomson Chem. Org. Bodies 386 The violet is well known to be coloured by a blue matter which acids change to red. 1855 Kingsley Heroes, Theseus i. 199 The meadows [are sweet] with violet. |
b. with
a and
pl.: A single flower, plant, or species of this.
| c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. i. met. vi. (1868) 25 Yif þou wilt gadre violettz, ne go þou not to þe purper wode whan þe felde chirkynge agriseþ of colde. c 1400 Mandeville (1839) xiv. 160 Here colour is..more browne than the Violettes. 14.. Nom. in Wr.-Wülcker 712 Hec viola, a vyolytte. 1483 Cath. Angl. 402/2 A violett, viola. 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. 352 What man is able to affirme, that he euer sawe the Spring tide without Marche Violettes? 1598 Yong Diana 469 Roses and vilets strowing. 1613 Dekker Strange Horse Race Ep. Ded., It can bee no shame to gather a Violet, growing close to the ground. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 269 He spoils the Saffron Flow'rs, he sips the Blues Of Vi'lets. 1728–46 Thomson Spring 448 Where purple violets lurk With all the lowly children of the shade. 1791 Cowper Odyss. v. 86 Meadows of softest verdure, purpled o'er With violets. 1811 A. T. Thomson Lond. Disp. (1818) 408 Violets have an agreeable sweet odour, and a very slightly bitter taste. 1880 Bessey Bot. 551 The genus Viola, the Violets, includes about half of the species of the order. |
c. collect. and
pl. The plant, or more usually the flowers, pulled or plucked for use in medicine or in making confections.
| collect. a 1400–50 Stockh. Med. MS. 11 For to makyn surripe of violet. 14.. Med. Rec. in Rel. Ant. I. 52 For the stane: tak grummel, percel, rede nettil, violet, franken ensens, and chiristane kirnels. a 1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula, etc. 67 Oile of violette with white of iii. eiren well stired togidre. 1562 Turner Herbal ii. 164 The violet is better that is gathered in the morninge. 1811 A. T. Thomson Lond. Disp. (1818) 688 Syrup of Violet. |
| pl. a 1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula, etc. 93 Oile of violettez may be made in þe same maner. Ibid., Oile of violettz. 1562 Turner Herbal ii. 164 Violettes make a man to slepe, and they are good for the disease of the vuula. 1563 T. Hill Art Garden. (1593) 83 The Violets ought especially to be gathered in March, and dryed in a shadowey place of the aire. 1631 E. Jorden Nat. Bathes vi. (1669) 41 If Matthiolus his reason were good, then Roses and Violets, and Vinegar should be hot. 1718 Quincy Compl. Disp. 181 Violets..are in every one's acquaintance, for their Use in Medicine. 1736 Bailey Housh. Dict., Violets are of a laxative quality, and are us'd medically in syrups, juleps, conserves, oils, &c. 1855 Mayne Expos. Lex. 539 Iosacchar,..old name for the sugar of violets. 1861 Bentley Man. Bot. 458 The Violets generally, have been used on the Continent, as demulcent expectorants. 1887 Lady 20 Jan. 38/3 Small cut-glass dishes of pink and white bon-bons, together with candied violets. |
d. fig. (Applied
esp. to persons.)
| 1412–20 Lydg. Chron. Troy iii. 4380 Somme also..With þe lillye of virginite And violettis of parfit chastite, Ascendid ben a-boue þe sterris clere. 14.. ― To My Soverain Lady 96 O violet, O flour desiree, Sith I am for you so amorous [etc.]. c 1440 York Myst. xxv. 498 Hayll! vyolett, vernand with swete odoure. 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, v. ii. 46 Welcome my sonne: who are the Violets now, That strew the greene lap of the new-come Spring? 1842 Tennyson Will Waterproof 147 How out of place she makes The violet of a legend blow Among the chops and steaks! |
2. With specific epithets:
a. Denoting species of
Viola, or varieties of the common violet.
The number of these is very large, and only the older or more prominent are illustrated here. Tournefort's species (53 in all) are enumerated in
Chambers' Cycl. Suppl. (1753)
s.v. Viola; later lists may be found in Loudon
Encycl. Pl. (1829–36) 186 and Johnson
Cottage Gard. Dict. (1852) 912–3. American species are given by Gray
Man. Bot. (1860, etc.) and in recent American dictionaries. See also
dog-violet.
| 1753 Chambers' Cycl. Suppl. s.v. Viola, The purple *alpine Violet, with very small leaves. |
| c 1710 Petiver Catal. Ray's Eng. Herbal Tab. xxxvii, *Bog Violet. |
| 1777 Lightfoot Flora Scot. (1789) II. 1109 Viola hirta,..*Hairy Violet. |
| 1578–1601 *March Violet [see March n.2 2 b]. 1728 Bradley Dict. Bot. s.v. Viola, Single March Violets. Ibid., Double March Violets. 1731 Miller Gard. Dict. s.v. Viola, Greater hairy March Violet, without Smell. |
| 1753 Chambers' Cycl. Suppl. s.v. Viola, The round-leaved *marsh Violet. 1777 Lightfoot Flora Scot. (1789) I. 506 Viola palustris,..Marsh Violet. |
| 1657 Coles Adam in Eden 175 *Mountain Violets with jagged Leaves. 1753 Chambers' Cycl. Suppl. s.v. Viola, The great flowered yellow mountain Violet. 1858 Irvine Handbk. Brit. Pl. 688 Viola lutea, Yellow Mountain Violet, or Yellow Pansy. |
| 1856 Delamer Fl. Gard. (1861) 106 The *Parma Violet has very light-blue double flowers. 1880 M. E. Braddon Just as I am xxi, A conservatory all abloom with snowdrops and Parma violets. |
| c 1710 Petiver Catal. Ray's Eng. Herbal Tab. xxxvii, Yellow *Rock Violet. |
| 1856 Delamer Fl. Gard. (1861) 106 Such are the *Russian and the Neapolitan Violets, amongst the singles. 1866 Treas. Bot. 1218/2 Large-flowered simple kinds—e.g., the Russian Violet. |
| 1578 Lyte Dodoens ii. 148 The *sweete Violet is called..in Latine Viola nigra, Viola purpurea. 1785 Martyn Lett. Bot. xxvi. (1794) 405 The Sweet Violet, that scents the banks, hedges, and borders of woods. 1853 Royle Mat. Med. (ed. 2) 327 The..Sweet Violet..is found wild on the borders of fields. |
| 1731 Miller Gard. Dict. s.v. Viola, White *sweet-scented Violet. 1831 Davies Mat. Med. 338 Sweet Scented Violet. Viola odorata. |
| 1597 Gerarde Herbal 705 The vpright Pancie is called..Viola assurgens,..Tricolor, that is to say Straight, or vpright Violet *three coloured. 1753 Chambers' Cycl. Suppl. s.v. Viola, The mountain three coloured Violet, or pansie, with variegated flowers. |
| Ibid., The *tree Violet, with blue and white flowers. Ibid., The yellow-flowered tree Violet. 1851 Glenny Handbk. Fl. Gard. 164 The tree-violet is a double-flowered, dark variety, which, if kept trained to a single stem, acquires the appearance of a miniature tree. |
| 1846–50 A. Wood Class-bk. Bot. 178 Viola tricolor. *Tricolored Violet. Pansey. Heart's-ease. |
| 1597 Gerarde Herbal 700 Viola canina syluestris. Dogs Violets, or *wilde Violets. 1731 Miller Gard. Dict. s.v. Viola, Wild or Dogs Violet. |
| c 1710 Petiver Catal. Ray's Eng. Herbal Tab. xxxvii, Hairy *Wood Violet. 1829 Loudon Encycl. Plants 186 Viola sylvestris, wood violet. 1903 Westm. Gaz. 19 Feb. 4/2 Such pretty toques of wood violets are coming over from Paris! |
| 1597 Gerarde Herbal 700 Viola martia lutea. *Yellow Violets. 1657 Coles Adam in Eden 175 Yellow Violets of Virginia. 1796 Withering Brit. Pl. (ed. 3) II. 263 Viola lutea. Yellow Violet or Pansies. |
b. Applied to plants of other genera, as
bulbous violet,
dog's tooth violet,
false violet,
rock violet,
toothed violet.
See also
bog n.1 3,
calathian a.,
corn n.1 11, dame's violet,
Guernsey,
Marian n.1 2,
Mercury n. 11,
queen n. 41 c,
rape n.5 4,
water n.| 1597 Gerarde Herbal 120 Viola Bulbosa, or *bulbed Violet... In English we may call it the Bulbose Violet. |
| 1578 Lyte Dodoens liv. 216 White *bulbus violet. 1633 Johnson Gerarde's Herbal i. lxxxviii. 149 Touching the faculties of these bulbous Violets we haue nothing to say. 1688 R. Holme Armoury ii. 66/2 The bulbous Violet;..the Flower hangeth down its head. 1760 J. Lee Introd. Bot. App. 331 Violet, Bulbous, Galanthus. |
| 1597 Gerarde Herbal 835 The Toothed Violet, or after some *Dogs tooth Violet, is commonly called Dentaria. 1760 J. Lee Introd. Bot. App. 331 Violet, Dog's Tooth, Erythronium. |
| 1846–50 A. Wood Class-bk. Bot. 253 Dalibarda repens. *False Violet. |
| 1866 Treas. Bot. 1218/2 *Rock Violet, Chroolepus Jolithus. |
| 1601 Holland Pliny II. 85 In number of leaves this floure passeth the *Sea-violet aforesaid, which never exceedeth five. 1725 Fam. Dict. s.v., Mr. Chomel particularly distinguishes them into two sorts, viz. the Sea-Violet, or our Lady-Glove, and March-Violets. |
| 1657 Coles Adam in Eden 333 Some have called the yellow Lupine *Spanish Violets,..and..Virginia Roses. |
| 1597 Gerarde Herbal 833 Of *toothed Violets, or Corallwoorts. 1728 Bradley Dict. Bot. s.v., Dentaria,..Toothed Violets, and Coral-Wort. Ibid., Bulb-bearing toothed Violet. |
3. Cloth, dress, or vestments of a violet colour.
Not always clearly separable from next.
| 1380 in Test. Karleol. (1893) 139, j cote de violett. a 1400 Sir Degrev. 625 Sche come in a vyolet, With whyȝthe perl overfret. c 1412 Hoccleve De Reg. Princ. 696 And where be my gounes of scarlet,..Grenes also, and þe fayre violet? 1483 in R. Davies York Rec. (1843) 142 The aldermen shalbe in vielet & the xxiiijti in blew. a 1513 Fabyan Chron. vii. 523 He was mette with the prouost of y⊇ marchantys with a company of xv. C. horse, y⊇ cytezyns beyng cladde in whyte and vyolette. c 1580 in Eng. Hist. Rev. July (1914) 520 In every tene clothes you muste have ij light popengaye grenes, ij light violettes, ij light skye collers, ij azars and ij Blewes. 1598 Stow Surv. 130 The Maior with..the Aldermen are accustomed to be present in their Violets at Paules, on Good Friday, and in their Scarlets..at the Spittle in the Holy daies (except Wednesday in Violet). 1721 C. King Brit. Merch. II. 96 What is become of our noble Manufacture of Plunkets, Violets, and Blues, formerly made in Suffolk? 1849 Macaulay Hist. Engl. x. II. 599 He was well pleased that, in his own palace, an outcast..should, as king of France, dress in violet on days of court mourning. 1889 Pater G. de Latour (1896) 29 The mass said so solemnly, in violet, on Innocents' Day. |
4. a. A purplish blue colour resembling that of the violet; a pigment or dye of this colour.
Partly a substantival use of the
adj.| a 1400–50 Alexander 4336 Nouthire to toly ne to taunde transmitte we na vebbis, To vermylion ne violett ne variant littis. c 1400 Mandeville (1839) xiv. 160 Here colour is liche Vyolet. c 1475 Promp. Parv. 510 (K.), Violet, coloure, violaceus. 1604 E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies iv. xxvii. 284 There are other kindes which they call gilleflowers of the Indies, the which are like to a fine orange tawnie vellet, or a violet. a 1641 Bp. R. Montagu Acts & Mon. (1642) 367 Of the same stuffe and colour that the Stole was of, that is, of a violet inclining to red. 1688 R. Holme Armoury iv. ix. (Roxb.) 382/1 Cassocks of fine scarletted murrey (which is violett). 1730 Bailey (fol.), Purple,..a red Colour, bordering on Violet. 1796 H. Hunter tr. St.-Pierre's Stud Nat. (1799) I. 543 More than one Churchman considers violet as the most beautiful of colours, because his Bishop wears it. 1815 Stephens Shaw's Gen. Zool. IX. i. 56 The whole plumage is of a beautiful blue green, changing in certain lights to violet. 1852 Thackeray Esmond ii. ii, I think I never saw such a beautiful violet as that of her eyes. 1884 Marq. Dufferin in Lyall Life (1905) II. 64 A tremendous thunderstorm had..dyed Olympus and his adjoining peaks with the deepest, blackest violet. |
b. The scent of violets,
esp. as used in cosmetics.
| a 1850 in A. Davis Package & Print (1967) Pl. 8 Essence of Millefleur, Bouquet, Marechalle, Resida [sic], Violet, Tubereuse. 1890–1 T. Eaton & Co. Catal. Fall & Winter 42/2 Perfumes..white violet, Italian violet,..satchet powder,..violet. 1898 [see lilac 2 c]. 1928–9 Army & Navy Stores Catal. 496/3 Natural Flower Perfumes..Muguet, Rose, Violet. 1982 Christian Science Monitor 26 Nov. b8/3, I stocked up on Roger & Gallet hand soaps in violet and sandalwood. |
5. An onion; in
pl. spring onions, sage and onions.
slang. In many dicts. of slang but no contextual examples found.
| 1890 Barrère & Leland Dict. Slang II. 397/1 Violets (common), an euphemism for sage and onions. 1903 Farmer & Henley Slang VII. 277/1 Violet (or garden-violet),..1. An onion: spec. in pl. = spring onions used as a salad. Also (2) in pl. = sage-and-onion stuffing. 1929 M. A. Gill Underworld Slang, Violets, onions. 1946 J. Irving Royal Navalese 182 Violets, spring onions. |
6. a. attrib., in various senses, as
violet bank,
violet-bed,
violet breath,
violet crown,
violet family,
violet flower, etc.
Sometimes
fig., as
violet-virtue, or in
fig. context.
the city of the Violet Crown, Athens (after
Gr. ἰοστέϕανοι ἀθῆναι, used by Pindar and Aristophanes).
| 1801 Southey Thalaba vii. xiii, So on a *violet bank The Arabian Maid laid down, Her soft cheek pillow'd upon moss and flowers. a 1822 Shelley Triumph Life 72 Violet banks where sweet dreams brood. |
| 1853 Hickie tr. Aristoph. (Bohn) I. 267 The *violet-bed beside the well. |
| 1862 Meredith Mod. Love xl, The *violet breath of maidenhood. |
| 1834 Macaulay Ess., Pitt (1897) 308 Pitt..loved England, as an Athenian loved the City of the *Violet Crown. 1851 Mrs. Browning Casa Guidi Wind. 37 Was the violet crown that crowned thy head So over-large..It slipped down? 1877 Morley Crit. Misc. Ser. ii. 385 A thrill like that which the..sight of the dear city of the Violet Crown moved in an Athenian of old. |
| 1849 Balfour Man. Bot. §768 Violaceæ, the *Violet Family. |
| a 1400–50 Alexander 1539 He castis on a Cape of kastand hewes,..A vestoure to vise on of *violet floures. 1598 Florio, Violina, a little violet flowre. 1620 Venner Via Recta vii. 147 Of Violet flowers with sugar, there is made a Conserue, and also a Syrupe. 1753 Chambers' Cycl. Suppl. s.v. Viola, Violet flowers, fresh gathered, are emollient, and gently purgative. 1814 Scott Ld. of Isles vi. ix, When beams the sun through April's shower, It needs must bloom, the violet flower. |
| 1658 Rowland tr. Moufet's Theat. Ins 908 Grape⁓honey, Bean-honey, Lilly-honey, *Violet-honey, &c. |
| 1728 Chambers Cycl., Populeum,..an Unguent prepared of the Buds of black Poplar, *Violet Leaves, Navel-wort [etc.]. |
| 1857 Henfrey Bot. §416 Violaceæ. The *Violet Order. |
| 1822 Shelley Chas. I, i. 46 Nor leave the broad..and beaten road..For the *violet paths of pleasure. |
| 1611 Cotgr., Violier,..a *Violet root or plant. |
| 1728 Chambers Cycl. s.v. Oil, Palm Oil [is]..a thick unctuous Liquor, of a yellow Colour, and a *Violet-smell. 1804 Med. Jrnl. XII. 230 The flowers have a violet smell. |
| a 1814 Intrigues of a Day i. i. in New Brit. Theatre I. 76 That may soon be washed away. Only a little milk of roses, or *violet soap, and all will be well. |
| 1828 Miss Mitford Village Ser. iii. (1863) 117 here I used to come almost every morning, during the *violet-tide. |
| 1862 Goulburn Pers. Relig. ii. iv. I. 261 Here is the bosom-adder of vanity coiled up in the *violet-tuft of humility. |
| 1628 Feltham Resolves ii. vi. 12 It may seeme strange..that such a poore *violet Vertue [sc. humility] should euer dwell with Honour. |
| 1620 Venner Via Recta vii. 125 If there be neede of cooling with Rose, or *Violet⁓water and Sugar. |
b. In
adj. combs., chiefly instrumental, as
violet-adorned,
violet-crowned,
violet-embroidered,
violet-garlanded,
violet-inwoven,
violet-scented; also
violet-dewy,
violet-hued ,
violet-like,
violet-rippling,
violet-sweet.
| 1953 C. Day Lewis Italian Visit iii. 37 *Violet-adorned beauties. |
| 1837 B. D. Walsh Aristoph., Acharnians ii. vi, The envoys.., in order to cheat your Assemblies, Would call you all ‘*violet-crowned’. 1869 A. R. Wallace Malay Archip. I. 366 A beautiful violet-crowned dove. |
| 1932 Blunden Halfway House 73 All fresh and *violet-dewy. |
| 1637 Milton Comus 233 In the *violet imbroider'd vale Where the love⁓lorn Nightingale Nightly to thee her sad Song mourneth well. |
| 1836–48 B. D. Walsh Aristoph., Knights v. i, He is dwelling now in ancient and fair and *violet-garlanded Athens. |
| 1867 M. E. Braddon R. Godwin i, There were no tears in the large *violet-hued eyes. |
| 1820 Shelley Prometh. Unb. iv. 197 Two runnels of a rivulet, Between the close moss *violet-inwoven, Have made their path of melody. |
| 1825 Greenhouse Comp. I. 107 Purple *violet-like flowers on coriaceous roundish leaves. |
| 1949 Blunden After Bombing 29 And some have sung though never seen Melodious, voiceful, *violet-rippling, blushful Hippocrene. |
| 1840 Mrs. Norton Dream 238 The *violet-scented lanes—the warm south-wall. 1859 Geo. Eliot A. Bede xii, An afternoon in which destiny..poisons us with violet-scented breath. |
| 1851 Mrs. Browning Casa Guidi Wind. i. 411 Like some new bee-swarm leaving the old hive, Despite the wax..so *violet-sweet. |
c. With
vbl. ns., as
violet farming,
violet-plucking,
violet-poisoning,
violet setting.
| c 1440 Pallad. on Husb. (1896) 268 Violette settyng in Feuerer. 1833 T. Hook Parson's Dau. i. i, Daisy-picking and violet-plucking [were now] the only pursuits she really loved. 1896 Westm. Gaz. 28 Oct. 8/2 The above case of violet-poisoning. 1902 Daily Chron. 17 July 6/3 Rose culture, violet farming, bee-keeping, or poultry rearing. |
7. Special
Combs.:
† violet-apple, a violet-scented sort of apple;
violet-blind a., colour-blind as regards the violet rays of the spectrum; hence
violet-blindness;
violet cream, (
a) a violet-scented cosmetic cream; (
b) a violet-flavoured confection;
† violet-pear, a violet-scented sort of pear;
violet powder, a variety of toilet-powder; hence
violet-powder vb.;
† violet tables, lozenges made from violets and sugar;
violet tea, an infusion made from dried violet flowers;
violet tree (?);
violet-wood, (
a) kingwood; (
b) the wood of the Australian
Acacia pendula; (
c) the wood of
Andira violacea, a tree of Guyana;
violetworts, Lindley's name for the
Violaceæ.
| 1664 in Evelyn Pomona 47 Herefordshire affords several sorts of Cider-apples, as..the Gennet-moyle, the Summer⁓*violet or Fillet, and the Winter-fillet. 1676 Worlidge Cyder 163 The Violet-Apple is of a most delicate aromatick taste. |
| 1894 Abney Colour Vision (1895) 70 The kind of colour that these colour blind imagine as white, whether they be red-, green-, or *violet-blind. |
| Ibid. 73 So far I have only met with what appears to be one genuine case of *violet blindness. |
| 1912 J. Webster Daddy-Long-Legs 203, I started down town to-day to buy..a jar of *violet cream and a cake of Castile soap. 1965 A. Christie At Bertram's Hotel xxi. 194 They were lovely chocolates... There were some violet creams. That's the sort of chocolate that has a crystallised violet on top. |
| 1683 Evelyn Kal. Hort. (ed. 7) 104 *Violet-pear, Petworth-pear, otherwise called the Winter-Windsor. |
| 1856 Dickens Dorrit (1857) ii. ii. 338 She mended her complexion with *violet powder. 1858 Simmonds Dict. Trade, Violet-powder, powdered starch or flour scented, used..to powder the skin. 1859 Habits of Gd. Society i. 114 The use of violet-powder after shaving, now very common.., is one that should be avoided. 1876 R. Broughton Joan vi, She has, however, violet-powdered her fresh cheeks. |
| 1620 Venner Via Recta vii. 147 There is..made of Violets and Sugar, certaine Plates, called *Violet Tables, which are very pleasant to the taste. |
| 1853 Mrs. Gaskell Ruth III. iii. 115 She..brought her up a cup of soothing violet-tea. 1904 Cassell's New Dict. Cookery xviii. 1033/1 Violet tea, this is a soothing beverage for persons suffering from bronchitis and similar affections. |
| 1878 H. M. Stanley Dark Cont. II. ix. 281 You may also see here [sc. Barundu] the Strelitza vagina, or the wild banana, or the *violet-tree, and the oil-berry tree. |
| 1698 Froger Voy. 129 Letter-wood (as they call it) and that of *Violet,..are very common in that country. 1843 Holtzapffel Turning I. 89 King-wood, called also Violet-wood, is imported from the Brazils. 1852 [see myall2]. 1866 Treas. Bot. 1218/2. |
| 1846 Lindley Veg. Kingd. 338 The *Violet⁓worts are distinctly defined by their definite stamens. |
▪ II. † ˈviolet, n.2 Obs.—1 [ad. It. violetta, dim. of viola viola2.] (See
quot. and
cf. violette.)
| 1688 R. Holme Armoury iii. xvi. (Roxb.) 58/1 The Violet or Violin, a diminitiue of the viol, being a very small Instrument, yet in all respects answereth to the forme of the Treble Viole in the body. |
▪ III. violet, a. (
ˈvaɪəlɪt)
Also 4–6
violett, 5
vyolet(te,
vyelett,
vialet, 6
violitt.
[a. OF. violet, vielet, villet (mod.F. violet) adj.: see violet n.1 Cf. It. violetto, Pg. violete.] 1. a. Having the colour of violets; of a blue or bluish-purple colour.
In early use only of woven fabrics.
| 1370 Bury Wills (Camden) 5, j violett toga. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 509/2 Vialet, yn colowre, violaceus. 1464 Maldon (Essex) Court Rolls Bundle 40, No. 6, ii togas blewe et vyolette, 1 dobelet. c 1481 Cely Papers (Camden) 202 Item iij stykkes of tarny sateyn or els vyelett sateyn of Bruges. 1524 Lincoln Wills (1914) I. 130 A violitt reband with silver aglyttes. 1544 Knaresborough Wills (Surtees) I. 34 To Agnes Gill my violett kirtell. 1579 Reg. Privy Council Scot. III. 195 Thre single pandis, freinyeit with violet silk. c 1620 Moryson Itin. iv. v. i. (1903) 438 Next rode some 20. of the Pope's Chamberlayns and cheefe officers, cloathed in gownes of violett Cloth. 1812 Sir H. Davy Chem. Philos. 223 The luminous particles at the violet end of the spectrum. 1857 Miller Elem. Chem., Org. viii. 537 Boiling nitric acid colours it violet. 1884 Marq. Dufferin in Lyall Life (1905) II. 64 Directly fronting you, rises a magnificent violet stretch of mountain. |
b. Qualifying
colour,
hue,
tint, etc.
| c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xvii. 80 Men find dyamaundz of violet colour. 1548 Cooper Elyot's Dict., Violarius, he that dieth violet colour. 1601 Holland Pliny II. 621 There is not one of these Ameythysts, but it is transparent with a Violet colour. 1622–3 Essex Archdeaconry Depositions Bk. (MS.) 27 Feb. 26 One cloake for a man made of broade cloath and of a violett couler. 1648 Hexham ii, Een Violette verwe, a Violet Dye or colour. 1706 London & Wise Retir'd Gard. I. ix. 41 The Maugeron is [a plum] of a Violet Colour, large and round. 1750 tr. Leonardus' Mirr. Stones 79 The carbuncle brandishes its fiery rays, of a violet colour, on every side. 1800 tr. Lagrange's Chem. I. 419 Hydrogen gas alters the colour of bismuth, and gives it a violet tint. 1834 J. Forbes Laennec's Dis. Chest (ed. 4) 465 The lung..was of a violet hue, soft and flabby. a 1878 W. Carleton Farm Ballads (1893) 84 The squire swore oaths of a violet hue. |
c. Qualifying names of other colours, as
violet black,
violet blue, etc.
In later use frequently hyphened (
cf. next), and in some cases (
esp. violet-blue) also
repr. the
n. used
attrib.| 1728 Chambers Cycl. s.v. Red, In Limning, and Fresco, for a Violet Red,..they use a natural Earth found in England. 1782 Latham Gen. Syn. Birds I. ii. 754 The quills of a violet brown. 1819 Stephens Shaw's Gen. Zool. XI. i. 3 The wings..are of a fine deep violet-blue. 1843 Florist's Jrnl. (1846) IV. 111 Flower-spike producing three to four flowers, and very handsome, of a beautiful violet⁓purple. 1882 Garden 17 June 418/1 The petals..bordered with violet-crimson. |
d. Forming
adj. combs., as
violet-black,
violet-blue, etc.
Many examples occur in Shaw's
Gen. Zool.| 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 394 From one Root the rising Stem bestows A Wood of Leaves, and Vi'let-purple Boughs. 1753 Chambers' Cycl. Suppl. s.v. Star-wort, The tall hairy New England aster with very large violet-purple flowers. 1802 Shaw Gen. Zool. III. ii. 423 Violet-black Snake, with the abdomen and sides crimson. 1819 Stephens Ibid. XI. i. 59 The upper parts of the body [are] violet-red. 1838 T. Thomson Chem. Org. Bodies 746 The whole liquid assumes a very strong and fine violet-blue colour. 1887 W. Phillips Brit. Discomycetes 70 Hymenium violet-brown; juice violet. |
2. a. In names of varieties of fruits or plants, as
violet clover,
violet maize,
violet plum, etc. Also
ellipt.| 1706 London & Wise Retir'd Gard. I. 147 The Fourth [kind is] the Violet Fig. Ibid., The Violet ripens perfectly well. a 1722 Lisle Husb. (1757) 379 A violet-plum, a standard,..which is a plum that does not cleave from the stone. 1725 Fam. Dict. s.v. Plum, The Violet Damson or Maugeron Plum. 1760–72 tr. Juan & Ulloa's Voy. (ed. 3) II. 140 They first pulverize the cochineal by grinding, and after mixing four ounces of it, with twelve of violet maize, they form it into square cakes. 1786 Abercrombie Arrangem. 13 in Gard. Assist., Cherry plum, Violet plum, Apricot plum. 1860 Hogg Fruit Man. 72 Figs... Skin dark. Flesh red... Early Violet, Malta. Ibid. 251 Purple Gage (..Violet Gage). 1867 Chambers's Encycl. IX. 803/2 The Violet Moss (Byssus Iolithus)..was formerly in use as a popular remedy for feverish cutaneous eruptions. 1890 Times 22 Sept. 4/2 The cut of violet clovers in France is not likely to be large. |
b. In names of birds, insects, etc., as
violet bee,
violet cormorant,
violet crab,
violet creeper,
violet heron, etc.;
violet-ear, one or other species of the genus
Petasophora of humming-birds;
violet-fly, an artificial fly used in angling;
violet-green swallow, a dark-coloured swallow with white patches,
Tachycineta thalassina, found in western North America;
violet-tip, an American butterfly (see
quot.).
Latham's names are repeated in Shaw's
Gen. Zool. (1811–26).
| 1845 Encycl. Metrop. XIV. 153/1 A *violet bee, which they now sent off [from the balloon], flew quickly away with its usual humming noise. c 1882 Cassell's Nat. Hist. V. 367 The Violet Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa violacea)..inhabits the south of Europe. |
| 1785 Latham Gen. Synop. Birds iii. ii. 600 *Violet Corvorant... This bird is said to be wholly black, glossed with violet. 1826 Stephens Shaw's Gen. Zool. XIII. i. 86 Violet Cormorant, Phalacrocorax violaceus. |
| 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1824) III. 86 The *Violet Crab of the Carribee Islands. 1895 Pall Mall G. 26 July 2/3 The much advertised land-crabs are precisely the same ‘violet crab’..found on similar tropical islands. |
| 1782 Latham Gen. Synop. Birds I. ii. 705 *Violet Creeper. |
| 1861 Gould Trochilidæ IV. Pl. 223 Brazilian *Violet-ear. Ibid. Pl. 226 Mexican Violet-ear. 1887 R. B. Sharpe Gould's Trochilidæ Suppl. V. Pl. 1 Petasophora Germana, Guiana Violet-ear. |
| 1676 Cotton Walton's Angler ii. vii. (1875) 255 A fly called the *Violet-Fly; made of a dark violet stuff; with the wings, of a grey feather of a mallard. 1787 Best Angling (ed. 2) 101 The Violet fly... Dubbed with dark violet stuff, and a little dun bear's hair mixed with it. |
| 1832 Lytton Eugene A. i. ix, The old Corporal..busily employed in fixing to his line..what anglers..call the violet⁓fly’. |
| 1858 S. F. Baird Birds Pacific Rail Road 311 *Violet-Green Swallow..Rocky Mountains to Pacific. 1972 L. Hancock Sleeping Bag viii. 205 A pair of violet-green swallows built a nest..above our bedroom window. |
| 1815 Stephens Shaw's Gen. Zool. IX. ii. 249 *Violet Grosbeak, with a streak above the eyes. |
| 1785 Latham Gen. Synop. Birds III. i. 97 *Violet Heron,..of a blueish black, glossed with violet. |
| 1782 Ibid. I. ii. 756 *Violet Humming Bird;..the whole head, the neck, back, breast, and belly, of a violet purple. |
| 1864–5 J. G. Wood Homes without H. iv. (1868) 88 The *Violet Land Crab of Jamaica (Gecarcinus ruricola) is the most familiar of these creatures. |
| 1832 J. Rennie Consp. Butterfl. & M. 205 The *Violet Pygmy (Microsetia violaceella). Wings:..first pair deep black, with a tinge of violet. |
| 1785 Latham Gen. Synop. Birds iii. ii. 600 *Violet Shag. Violet Corvorant. |
| 1858 Baird Cycl. Nat. Sci. 307/2 Janthina. The *Violet Shells.—A genus of molluscous animals belonging to the class Gasteropoda. |
| 1845 Gosse Ocean vii. (1849) 343 The *Violet-snail (Janthina fragilis),..whose shell..is of a pearly white above, and beneath violet. 1873 Dawson Earth & Man iv. 76 Those singular molluscous swimmers by fin or float known to zoologists as violet-snails. |
| 1783 Latham Gen. Synop. Birds II. ii. 574 *Violet Swallow,..general colour of the plumage deep blue, reflecting violet in different tints. |
| Ibid. i. 222 *Violet Tanager,..colour of the plumage a deep violet. |
| Ibid. 57 *Violet Thrush,..the whole plumage of a changeable violet blue. |
| 1881 S. H. Scudder Butterflies 167 The most conspicuous case [of dimorphism] is in the largest, the *Violet-Tip (Polygonia interrogationis), where the two forms were once universally considered distinct species. |
c. With names of minerals, etc.
| 1796 Kirwan Elem. Min. (ed. 2) II. 280 Violet Cobalt ore. 1839 H. T. De la Beche Rep. Geol. Cornwall, etc. xv. 497 The violet rock crystal, or amethyst, seems scarce. 1867 Chambers's Encycl. IX. 803/2 Violet Stones,..certain stones found upon high mountains, as in Thuringia,..which, in consequence of being covered with..Violet Moss, emit a smell like that of violets. 1871 Routledge's Ev. Boy's Ann. June 335 Violet ebony is used for making inlaid chairs. |
d. violet ray: (
a) a ray of violet light; (
b) a ray of ultra-violet light. Also
attrib. Now
rare.
| 1803 Jrnl. Nat. Philos. V. 255 He placed muriate of silver without the solar spectrum and next to the violet rays. This oxide became blackened in a short time, it became still deeper in the violet rays, still more in the blue, and so on. 1903 Sci. Amer. 20 June 473/1 The so-called ‘violet ray’, which is now so common in literature, should be dropped, and ‘blue ray’ should be substituted in its place. 1925 A. Bennett Jrnl. 7 Feb. (1933) III. 74 He went to lie down under the light of his violet-ray lamp (equivalent of sunlight or some such thing) over his bed. 1929 Proc. IRE XVII. 1388 The real difficulty lies in the modernization of household equipment such as electric fans..and violet ray machines. All of these must be designed with elimination of radio interference in mind. 1933 Amer. Speech VIII. ii. 55/2 Nature-ray, all right, or O.K., as in the phrase, I'm feeling nature-ray. It evidently is based on violet rays. 1966 J. S. Cox Illustr. Dict. Hairdressing & Wigmaking 79/2 High frequency, an electric current of high voltage and very low amperage, used in scalp treatment. Also called Violet Ray because of the violet light produced in the glass applicator. |
3. In parasynthetic combs., as
violet-eared,
violet-headed,
violet-hooded,
violet-horned,
violet-ringed, etc.
| 1782 Latham Gen. Synop. Birds I. ii. 767 *Violet-Eared Humming Bird;..beneath the ears, is a very splendid violet spot. 1898 Daily News 12 Feb. 6/3 Violet-eared waxbills, African firefinches, black-crested yellow bulbuls. |
| 1782 Latham Gen. Synop. Birds I. ii. 718 *Violet-Headed Creeper, Certhia violacea. 1815 Stephens Shaw's Gen. Zool. IX. i. 8 Violet-headed Curucui (Trogon violaceus). |
| 1847 Tennyson Princ. ii. 354 With scraps of thundrous Epic lilted out By *violet-hooded Doctors. |
| 1822 Hortus Angl. II. 10 *Violet-horned Poppy. |
| 1880 A. H. Swinton Insect Variety 4 A *violet-ringed Oak Eggar caterpillar. |
| 1821 Shelley Epipsych. 69 Art thou not..A *violet-shrouded grave of Woe? |
| a 1882 ― Death Adonis 4 Wake *violet⁓stoled queen, and weave the crown Of Death. |
| 1786 Abercrombie Arrangem. 77 in Gard. Assist., White, *violet striped [tulip]. 1803 Shaw Gen. Zool. IV. ii. 382 Violet⁓striped Acanthurus. Acanthurus Sohal. |
| 1782 Latham Gen. Synop. Birds I. ii. 754 *Violet Tailed Humming Bird. |
| 1811 Shaw Gen. Zool. VIII. i. 208 *Violet-throated Creeper. Certhia affinis. |
4. Special collocation:
violet shift (
Astr.), displacement of spectral lines towards the violet end of the spectrum; decrease in the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation;
usu. called a
blue shift;
cf. red shift n.| 1959 Listener 3 Dec. 971/1 The spectroscope will reveal a violet shift for one component, and a red shift for the other, according to the familiar Doppler principle. 1977 J. Narlikar Struct. Universe iii. 76 Hence negative z is interpreted as ‘blue-shift’ or ‘violet-shift’. |
▪ IV. violet, v. (
ˈvaɪəlɪt)
[f. violet n.1 or a.] 1. trans. To tinge with a violet hue.
| 1623 tr. Favine's Theat. Hon. i. iv. 35 For the Noble Kings of France mourne in Scarlet violetted. 1832 [R. Cattermole] Beckett, etc. 192 The sea, Yet darklier violeted, almost frowned With splendor. 1895 Meredith Amazing Marriage v, One flank of the white in heaven was violetted wonderfully. |
2. intr. To gather violets.
| 1813 Miss Mitford in L'Estrange Life (1870) I. 226 Tomorrow I shall go violeting. 1827 Mrs. Hemans in H. F. Chorley Mem. (1836) I. 151 Having accompanied you again, and again, as I have done, in ‘violetting’ and seeking for wood-sorrel. 1873 Argosy XVI. 270 How delightful was that day among the Kentish Downs! We began it by violeting in the woods. |