Palatinate or “Palatinate Purple” is a purple color associated with Durham University and the city of Durham. It is used in the academic dress of Durham University and the Schools of Medicine and Law of Newcastle University (a former faculty of Durham University). It was also previously used (since 1894) on Trinity College (Connecticut) BA and MA caps. The term has been used to refer to a range of different shades of purple. The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as “a light purple or lavender colour” used for university printings in Durham (and Newcastle). For business purposes, Durham University uses a darker shade. One particular colour, ‘Palatinate Blue’, comes from the County Durham coat of arms. The name “Palatinate” in both cases alludes to Durham’s historic status as a county of the Palatinate.