Violetin

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A purple dye formerly used to color fabrics and other materials in shades ranging from bluish to reddish purple
2. A synthetic coloring agent that produces a deep purple tint when applied to textiles, paper or other materials
3. A violet-hued dyestuff historically employed to give cloth and similar surfaces a rich purplish color

Etymology: Violetin is a chemical-style name built from "violet" and the suffix "-in," which chemists use to name extracted substances, dyes, and compounds. The suffix comes from Latin "-ina," a feminine form that carried the sense of a substance or product, and it became a standard way to name such materials. "Violet" itself passes through Old French "violette," a diminutive of "viole," from Latin "viola," the name of the flower. The chemical name most likely refers to the violet colour, though the exact naming rationale is uncertain.