Russian violet

English

Noun

Russian violet (plural Russian violets)

1. A color of a rich and deep shade of violet, associated with the regal hues of Russian history.
   • 1915, “An Analysis of the Syndicate Color Card”, in Millinery Trade Review, volume 40, page 30:

     It is already evident that purples generally, and these Russian violet shades in particular, are among the leading favorites for straws, also that pale grays are to a certain extent taking the place of white, more especailly where silk materials used for covering shapes and trimming are concerned.

   • 1961, “Colours for Next Season”, in Leather Goods, volume 89, page 212:

     Greens represented both by muted olive types and by the bluer, very dark, Kendal Green; violets, introduced a year ago, shown in deep Russian Violet and in a delicate mauve which may be used as a harmonising glove colour;

2. (horticulture) A variety of violet, Viola suavis, noted for its hardiness and strong fragrance.
   • 1849, Charlotte Elizabeth, The Works of Charlotte Elizabeth - Volume 1, page 657:

     The Russian Violet, formed to retain both tint and fragrance through the most biting severity of weather, gives me this lesson of hope; bringing also in its train many a recollection no less dear than are the anticipations it numbers.

   • 1850, Annals of Horticulture - Volume 5, page 221:

     The Russian violet is certainly one of the most delightful little flowers, and often comes at the most unpromising time of the year, but those who want to be always plucking violets should have all the leading varieties.

   • 1875, “Violets”, in The Young Englishwoman, page 98:

     Those with which we are at present concerned are violets proper, and may be considered under three heads, viz. the common violet, V. odorata; the Russion violet, including the Czar and other like varieties; and lastly, the Neapolitan.

   • 1899, Richard Savage, “Love's Legacy”, in Our Mysterious Passenger: And Other Stories, page 195:

     An hour later we left the Colosseum, but not till we had heard that soaring voice again, vibrating in our very hearts, and saw the young cantatrice appear with a knot of Russian violets pinned upon the bosom which rose and fell in an ecstasy of song.

   • 1904, Sarah Warner Brooks, A Garden with House Attached, page 70:

     Two packets of choice Russian Violet seed were then sown in friable soil, well sifted, and made rich with a bottom layer of old cow manure.

   • 2019, Douglass Sherley, “Those Russian Violets”, in A Few Short Sketches:

     ."And your Russian violets," I added. She looked at them hesitatingly, but slightly shrugged her shoulders, that were bare and gleamed in the half glow of lamp and fire like moonlight on silvered meadow, and, turning, looked up at me and said: "I am ready at last; pray pardon my long delay."

3. A perfume fragrance that was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
   • 1904, Womanhood - Volume 11, page 59:

     A pretty little cut-glass perfume spray, with double india-rubber bellows, filled with Russian Violet and in a decorated case, is astonishingly cheap for 3s.;

   • 1923, “Copy of Ms. sent to F. E. Leaning”, in Journal of the Society for Psychical Research, volume 21, page 295:

     Going to the dressing-table, she picked up a bottle of Russian violet scent of which her mother was very fond: she was going out and she thought she would sprinkle some on her handkerchief.

   • 2019, Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman, The Debtor:

     Russian violet was the calling perfume in vogue in Banbridge.