ORRIS

orrisroot, orris

(noun) fragrant rootstock of various irises especially Florentine iris; used in perfumes and medicines

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology 1

Probably from iris, although the alteration of the vowel is unexplained.

Noun

orris (countable and uncountable, plural orrises)

Any of several irises that have a fragrant root, especially Iris × germanica.

The fragrant root of such an iris.

Etymology 2

Noun

orris (countable and uncountable, plural orrises)

A type of gold or silver lace.

A pattern in which gold lace or silver lace is worked, especially one in which the edges are ornamented with conical figures placed at equal distances, with spots between them.

Source: Wiktionary


Or"ris, n. Etym: [Prob. corrupted from It. ireos iris. See Iris.] (Bot.)

Definition: A plant of the genus Iris (I. Florentina); a kind of flower-de- luce. Its rootstock has an odor resembling that of violets. Orris pea (Med.), an issue pea made from orris root.

– Orris root, the fragrant rootstock of the orris.

Or"ris, n.

1. Etym: [Contr. from orfrays, or from arras.]

Definition: A sort of gold or silver lace. Johnson.

2. A peculiar pattern in which gold lace or silver lace is worked; especially, one in which the edges are ornamented with conical figures placed at equal distances, with spots between them.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

23 December 2024

QUANDONG

(noun) Australian tree having hard white timber and glossy green leaves with white flowers followed by one-seeded glossy blue fruit


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