'purplish-red' originates from English, formed from the adjective 'purplish' + the word 'red', where 'purplish' derives from 'purple' + the suffix '-ish' meaning 'somewhat', and 'purple' ultimately comes from Latin 'purpura'.

'purplish-red' evolved as a Modern English compound combining 'purplish' (itself from Middle English/Old English forms of 'purple', ultimately from Latin 'purpura' and Greek 'porphura') with 'red'; over time these elements combined in English to form descriptive compounds such as 'purplish-red'.

Initially 'purple' was closely associated with the costly Tyrian purple dye; over time color names broadened, and the compound 'purplish-red' came to be used simply to denote a color intermediate between purple and red.