Purple Heart

American  

noun

U.S. Armed Forces.

1. a medal awarded for wounds received in action against an enemy or as a direct result of an act of the enemy.

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purple heart ¹ British  

noun

1. any of several tropical American leguminous trees of the genus Peltogyne

2. the decorative purple heartwood of any of these trees

3. informal a heart-shaped purple tablet consisting mainly of amphetamine

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Purple Heart ² British  

noun

1. a decoration awarded to members of the US Armed Forces for a wound incurred in action

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Etymology

Origin of Purple Heart

An Americanism dating back to 1930–35

Example Sentences

Finally, I turn to the hallway cabinet where Tūtū keeps our family heirlooms: my great-grandpa’s Purple Heart, Dad’s high school diploma.

From Literature

He entered the Army’s 101st Airborne Division and earned a Purple Heart as one of the paratroopers who, at age 20, dropped into German-occupied France on D-Day, June 6, 1944.

From Los Angeles Times

An aide then held up a tablet showing a Zoom connection with Purple Heart recipient Sae Joon Park in South Korea.

From Los Angeles Times

Army and Navy veteran awarded a Purple Heart, Stern founded Grey Bull in 2021, leading private evacuation missions in war zones from Afghanistan to Gaza.

From The Wall Street Journal

A company called Purple Heart reportedly acted an an intermediary in the transfer.

From Barron's

Related Words

• badge
• ribbon