from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Violet \Vi"o*let\, n. [F. violette a violet (cf. violet
violet-colored), dim. of OF. viole a violet, L. viola; akin
to Gr. ?. Cf. {Iodine}.]
1. (Bot.) Any plant or flower of the genus {Viola}, of many
species. The violets are generally low, herbaceous plants,
and the flowers of many of the species are blue, while
others are white or yellow, or of several colors, as the
pansy ({Viola tricolor}).
[1913 Webster]
Note: The cultivated sweet violet is {Viola odorata} of
Europe. The common blue violet of the eastern United
States is {Viola cucullata}; the sand, or bird-foot,
violet is {Viola pedata}.
[1913 Webster]
2. The color of a violet, or that part of the spectrum
farthest from red. It is the most refrangible part of the
spectrum.
[1913 Webster]
3. In art, a color produced by a combination of red and blue
in equal proportions; a bluish purple color. --Mollett.
[1913 Webster]
4. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of small
violet-colored butterflies belonging to {Lycaena}, or
{Rusticus}, and allied genera.
[1913 Webster]
[1913 Webster]
{Corn violet}. See under {Corn}.
{Dame's violet}. (Bot.) See {Damewort}.
{Dogtooth violet}. (Bot.) See under {Dogtooth}.
{Water violet} (Bot.), an aquatic European herb ({Hottonia
palustris}) with pale purplish flowers and pinnatifid
leaves.
[1913 Webster]