from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Mauve \Mauve\ (m[=o]v), n. [F., mallow, L. malva. So named from
the similarity of the color to that of the petals of common
mallow, {Malva sylvestris}. See {Mallow}.]
A color of a delicate purple, violet, or lilac.
[1913 Webster]
{Mauve aniline} (Chem.), a dyestuff produced artificially by
the oxidation of commercial aniline, and the first
discovered of the so-called coal-tar, or aniline, dyes. It
consists of the sulphate of mauve["i]ne, and is a dark
brown or bronze amorphous powder, which dissolves to a
beatiful purple color. Called also {aniline purple},
{violine}, {Perkin's mauve}, etc.
[1913 Webster]