Tyrian

[ tir-ee-uhn ]

adjective

1. of or relating to ancient Tyre or its people.
2. of the color of Tyrian purple.

Tyrian

/ ˈtɪrɪən /

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of ancient Tyre
2. short for Tyrian purple

adjective

1. of or relating to ancient Tyre

Word History and Origins

Origin of Tyrian¹

1505–15; < Latin Tyri ( us ) (< Greek Týrios, derivative of Týros Tyre ) + -an

Example Sentences

The common name of the dyestuff, Tyrian purple, derives from the habitat of the mollusks, which the Phoenicians purportedly began harvesting in the 16th century B.C. in the city-state of Tyre in present-day Lebanon.

From New York Times

Ancient Tyrian purple, named for the town of Tyre in what is now southern Lebanon, was also rose, bluish red or velvety black, she writes.

From Seattle Times

By the 14th century, the secrets of Tyrian purple were lost, according to the University of Chicago Library’s 2007 exhibition “The Origins of Color.”

From Seattle Times

“Couples are asking a lot from their guests both socially and professionally right now,” said Maya Jain, the owner of Tyrian Purple, a consulting firm for weddings and events in Manhattan.

From New York Times

Mouhamad Ghassen Nouira works from a hut in his garden to process murex snails using techniques first developed by the Phoenicians to produce a dye known as Tyrian purple that sells online for about $2,500 a gram.

From Reuters