Pupa, R. A doll; a child’s plaything. Dolls of terra-cotta have been found in various countries. In Egypt dolls have been found, made out of wood, painted, and in perfect proportion, with glass beads on the head in imitation of hair. As a rule, the ancient dolls are made with movable joints.
Puppis, R. The poop or after-part of a vessel as opposed to the prora or prow. (See Prora.)
Purbeck-stone. A rough grey sandstone from Dorsetshire, largely used for building purposes in London.
Purim (Festivals of), Heb. Jewish festivals called Festivals of the Lots, instituted in memory of Esther, who had averted the peril with which Haman threatened the Jews; they were so called because the favourite of Ahasuerus was to have decimated the Jews by casting lots to see who should be put to death.
Purple, Gen. An insignia of authority pertaining to certain magistrates who wore purple robes or bands of purple on their attire. There were two kinds of purple, the amethyst and the Tyrian; the former was a deep violet, and obtained from a shell-fish (murex trunculus); the Tyrian was more brilliant and had a redder tinge; it was obtained from the murex brandaris.
Purple is red graduated with blue, the red predominating; red with black makes purple-black. Purple pigments are madder purple, violet mars, burnt carmine (for water-colours).
Purple Lakes and Green Lakes are made by mixing yellow lakes with blue pigments. (See Yellow Lake.)
Purple Madder. (See Madder.)
Purple-wood. A beautiful deep-coloured Brazilian wood, used for marquetry and inlaid-work, but principally for the ramrods of guns.
Purpure, Her. Purple.