ARCHIL

archil, orchil

(noun) any of various lecanoras that yield the dye archil

orchil, archil, cudbear

(noun) a purplish dye obtained from orchil lichens

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

archil (countable and uncountable, plural archils)

(obsolete) Orchil, a violet dye obtained from several species of lichen (Roccella tinctoria, etc.), which grow on maritime rocks in the Canary and Cape Verde Islands, etc.

(obsolete) The plant from which the dye is obtained.

Anagrams

• CHIRLA, Charli, chiral

Source: Wiktionary

Ar"chil, n. Etym: [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.]

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition