n. & adj.
n. 1 a any plant of the genus Viola, esp. the sweet violet, with usu. purple, blue, or white flowers. b any of various plants resembling the sweet violet. 2 the bluish-purple colour seen at the end of the spectrum opposite red. 3 a pigment of this colour. b clothes or material of this colour.
adj. of this colour.
[ ME f. OF violet(te) dimin. of viole f. L VIOLA(2) ]