crystal violet

noun

1. gentian violet.

crystal violet

noun

1. another name for gentian violet

Word History and Origins

Origin of crystal violet¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Migrated cells were fixed and stained with crystal violet for quantification.

From Nature

Other coal-tar dyes are used for the same purpose, "malachite green," "brilliant green," "crystal violet," "ethyl violet" and "Victoria blue," so a patient in a military hospital is decorated like an Easter egg.

From Project Gutenberg