gentian violet

gentian violet   n.  A dye used in microscopy as a biological stain and in medicine as a bactericide, fungicide, and anthelmintic.

Main Entry: gentian violet
Function: noun
often capitalized G&V : any of several dyes (as crystal violet) or dye mixtures that consist of one or more methylderivatives of pararosaniline; especially : a dark green or greenish mixture used medicinally that contains not less than 96 percent of the derivative of pararosaniline containing sixmethyl groups in each molecule and is used especially as a bactericide, fungicide, and anthelmintic

gentian violet gen·tian violet (jěn'shən)
n.
Any of several basic dyes that are derivatives of pararosaniline, especially a dark green or greenish mixture that is used as a biological stain and as a bactericide, a fungicide, and an anthelmintic.