orchil

[ awr-kil, -chil ]

/ ˈɔr kɪl, -tʃɪl /

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noun

a violet coloring matter obtained from certain lichens, chiefly species of Roccella.

any lichen yielding this dye.

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Also called ar·chil

[ahr-kil], /ˈɑr kɪl/, or·seille

[awr-seyl, -sey, -sel] /ɔrˈseɪl, -ˈseɪ, -ˈsɛl/ .

Origin of orchil

Borrowed into English from Old French around 1475–85

Words nearby orchil

orchidometer, orchidotomy, orchid tree, orchiectomy, orchiepididymitis, orchil, orchio-, orchiocele, orchiopathy, orchiopexy, orchioplasty

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use orchil in a sentence

Roccella, rok-sel′a, n. a genus of parmeliaceous lichens, yielding dyers' archil or orchil.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R)|Various
Litmus is also obtained from the same lichens as yield orchil.
The Chemistry of Hat Manufacturing|Watson Smith
Cochineal is turned by the potassa to a violet-red, orchil to a violet-blue, and alkanet to a decided blue.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 363, December 16, 1882|Various
The acid turns logwood violet to a fine red, and equally reddens orchil violet.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 363, December 16, 1882|Various

Much orchil was formerly gathered, and there is good pasturage for the numerous herds of cattle.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 3|Various

British Dictionary definitions for orchil

orchil

archil

/ (ˈɔːkɪl, -tʃɪl) /

noun

any of various lichens, esp any of the genera Roccella, Dendrographa, and Lecanora

Also called: cudbear a purplish dye obtained by treating these lichens with aqueous ammonia: contains orcinol, orcein, and litmus

Word Origin for orchil

C15: from Old French orcheil, of uncertain origin

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