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alkanet

[al-kuh-net]

noun

  1. a European plant, Alkanna tinctoria, of the borage family.

  2. the root of this plant, yielding a red dye.

  3. the dye itself.

  4. any of several similar hairy plants, as the bugloss, Anchusa officinalis, or a puccoon of the genus Lithospermum.



alkanet

/ ˈælkəˌnɛt /

noun

  1. a European boraginaceous plant, Alkanna tinctoria, the roots of which yield a red dye

  2. Also called: anchusin alkanninthe dye obtained from this plant

  3. any of certain hairy blue-flowered Old World plants of the boraginaceous genus Anchusa (or Pentaglottis ), such as A. sempervirens of Europe See also bugloss

  4. another name for puccoon

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of alkanet1

1300–50; Middle English < Old Spanish alcaneta, equivalent to alcan ( a ) henna (plant) (< Medieval Latin alchanna < Arabic al the + hinnā̉ henna) + -eta diminutive suffix
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Word History and Origins

Origin of alkanet1

C14: from Spanish alcaneta, diminutive of alcana henna, from Medieval Latin alchanna, from Arabic al the + hinnā' henna
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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

For rosy cheeks, alkanet and cochineal roots were used as the basis for rouge.

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A resinoid coloring matter obtained from alkanet root.

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The ancients deemed this plant one of the four “cordial flowers” for cheering the spirits, the others being the rose, violet, and alkanet.

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On removing from the fire, add three or four small pieces of alkanet root, and keep the vessel closely covered for several hours.

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The plant is sometimes cultivated in Britain, chiefly on the east coast of England, but most of the alkanet of commerce is imported from the Levant or from southern France.

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