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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Which one of these commonly confused words can act as an adverb or a pronoun?
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
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for orchil
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
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