also: めっし
noun
A traditional Japanese color name for a very dark, subdued purple, often used in classical literature, dyeing, or artistic contexts.
この着物の滅紫は、江戸時代から愛されてきた色です。
The deep purple of this kimono is a color that has been loved since the Edo period.
絵の具で滅紫を作るには、赤と青を多めに混ぜます。
To make dark purple with paint, mix a generous amount of red and blue.
The kanji 滅 (destroy/extinguish) combined with 紫 (purple) suggests a purple so deep it seems to extinguish light. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is a traditional Japanese color name.