archil

[OF. orchel, orcheil, It. orcella, oricello, or OSp. orchillo. Cf. Orchil.]

1. A violet dye obtained from several species of lichen (Roccella tinctoria, etc.), which grow on maritime rocks in the Canary and Cape Verd Islands, etc. Tomlinson.

2. The plant from which the dye is obtained. [Written also orchal and orchil.]

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Columbia Encyclopedia: archil

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archil (är'kĭl, -chĭl) or orchil (ôr'-), blue, red, or purple dye extracted from several species of lichen, also called orchella weeds, found in various parts of the world. Commercial archil is either a powder (called cudbear), a pasty mass (called archil), or a drier paste (called persis).

Word Tutor: archil

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IN BRIEF: n. - Any of various lecanoras that yield a dye; A purplish dye obtained from orchil lichens.

WordNet: archil

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Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has 2 meanings:

Meaning #1: a purplish dye obtained from orchil lichens
Synonyms: orchil, cudbear

Meaning #2: any of various lecanoras that yield the dye archil
Synonym: orchil

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		Dictionary. Webster 1913 Dictionary edited by Patrick J. Cassidy Read more
		Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/. Read more
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