a sweet-smelling violet cultivated for its pale purple and fragrant flowers (Viola alba)
Parma violet in American English
noun
a variety of the sweet violet, Viola odorata, that is the source of an essential oil used in perfumery
Word origin
[1855–60; after parma, Italy]This word is first recorded in the period 1855–60. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: boilerplate, kickoff, output, pickup, specialist