What is "to be born in the purple"

Purple \Pur"ple\, n.; pl. Purples. [OE. purpre, pourpre, OF. purpre, porpre, pourpre, F. pourpre, L. purpura purple fish, purple dye, fr. Gr. ? the purple fish, a shell from the purple dye was obtained, purple dye; cf. ? dark (said of the sea), purple, ? to grow dark (said of the sea), to be troubled; perh. akin to L. furere to rage, E. fury: cf. AS. purpure. Cf. Porphyry, Purpure.]

1. A color formed by, or resembling that formed by, a combination of the primary colors red and blue.

   Arraying with reflected purple and gold The clouds that on his western throne attend. -- Milton.

   Note: The ancient words which are translated purple are supposed to have been used for the color we call crimson. In the gradations of color as defined in art, purple is a mixture of red and blue. When red predominates it is called violet, and when blue predominates, hyacinth.

2. Cloth dyed a purple color, or a garment of such color; especially, a purple robe, worn as an emblem of rank or authority; specifically, the purple rode or mantle worn by Roman emperors as the emblem of imperial dignity; as, to put on the imperial purple.

   Thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and purple, and scarlet.
   --Ex. xxvi. 1.

3. Hence: Imperial sovereignty; royal rank, dignity, or favor; loosely and colloquially, any exalted station; great wealth. ``He was born in the purple.''
   --Gibbon.

4. A cardinalate. See Cardinal.

5. (Zo["o]l.) Any species of large butterflies, usually marked with purple or blue, of the genus Basilarchia (formerly Limenitis) as, the banded purple ( Basilarchia arthemis). See Illust. under Ursula.

6. (Zo["o]l.) Any shell of the genus Purpura.

7. pl.(Med.) See Purpura.

8. pl. A disease of wheat. Same as Earcockle.

   Note: Purple is sometimes used in composition, esp. with participles forming words of obvious signification; as, purple-colored, purple-hued, purple-stained, purple-tinged, purple-tinted, and the like.

   French purple. (Chem.) Same as Cudbear.

   Purple of Cassius. See Cassius.

   Purple of mollusca (Zo["o]l.), a coloring matter derived from certain mollusks, which dyes wool, etc., of a purple or crimson color, and is supposed to be the substance of the famous Tyrian dye. It is obtained from Ianthina, and from several species of Purpura, and Murex.

   To be born in the purple, to be of princely birth; to be highborn.