anil

[ an-l ]

noun

1. a West Indian shrub, Indigofera suffruticosa, of the legume family, having elongated clusters of small, reddish-yellow flowers and yielding indigo.
2. indigo; deep blue.

anil

/ ˈænɪl /

noun

1. a leguminous West Indian shrub, Indigofera suffruticosa: a source of indigo Also calledindigo

Word History and Origins

Origin of anil¹

1575–85; < Portuguese < Arabic an-nīl, equivalent to al the + nīl indigo < Sanskrit nīlī indigo ( nīl ( a ) dark blue + -ī feminine noun suffix)

Word History and Origins

Origin of anil¹

C16: from Portuguese, from Arabic an-nīl, the indigo, from Sanskrit nīla dark blue

Example Sentences

And there was in fact somebody who fainted—Anil Kumar, a former McKinsey & Co. executive vice president.

From The Daily Beast

Anil, an′il, n. a plant from whose leaves and stalks indigo is made.

From Project Gutenberg

Some authors have thought that I. Anil, Linnæus, was one of these species.

From Project Gutenberg

Jack (appears in doorway Left clad in ragged anil dirty overcoat).

From Project Gutenberg

Indigofera Anil grows in the same countries, and also in the West Indies.

From Project Gutenberg

Putting into Acapulco, they found a bark laden with cocoas and anil.

From Project Gutenberg