Purple shell

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Ianthina \I*an"thi*na\, n.; pl. L. {Ianthin[ae]}, E.
   {Ianthinas}. [NL., fr. L. ianthinus violet-blue, Gr. ?; ?
   violet + ? flower.] (Zool.)
   Any gastropod of the genus {Ianthina}, of which various
   species are found living in mid ocean; -- called also {purple
   shell}, and {violet snail}. [Written also {janthina}.]
   [1913 Webster]

   Note: It floats at the surface by means of a raft, which it
         constructs by forming and uniting together air bubbles
         of hardened mucus. The Tyrian purple of the ancients
         was obtained in part from mollusks of this genus.
         [1913 Webster]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Purple \Pur"ple\, a.
   1. Exhibiting or possessing the color called purple, much
      esteemed for its richness and beauty; of a deep red, or
      red and blue color; as, a purple robe.
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   2. Imperial; regal; -- so called from the color having been
      an emblem of imperial authority.
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            Hide in the dust thy purple pride.    --Shelley.
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   3. Blood-red; bloody.
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            May such purple tears be alway shed.  --Shak.
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            I view a field of blood,
            And Tiber rolling with a purple blood. --Dryden.
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   {Purple bird} (Zool.), the European purple gallinule. See
      under {Gallinule}.

   {Purple copper ore}. (Min.) See {Bornite}.

   {Purple grackle} (Zool.), the crow blackbird. See under
      {Crow}.

   {Purple martin}. See under {Martin}.

   {Purple sandpiper}. See under {Sandpiper}.

   {Purple shell}. See {Ianthina}.
      [1913 Webster]