orchil

American  

[awr-kil, -chil] / ˈɔr kɪl, -tʃɪl /

noun

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

2. any lichen yielding this dye.

---

orchil British  

/ -tʃɪl, ˈɔːkɪl /

noun

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

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

---

Etymology

Origin of orchil

Borrowed into English from Old French around 1475–85

Example Sentences

It was about this time, too, that a Florentine named Rucellai rediscovered the method of making the purple dye orchil from certain lichens of Asia Minor.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 8 "Dubner" to "Dyeing" by Various

On most of the islands coco-nut and date palms, tamarinds and bananas may be seen; orchil is gathered; and indigo and castor-oil are produced.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 3 "Capefigue" to "Carneades" by Various

The first group comprises madder, cochineal, orchil, alkanet, and murexide.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 363, December 16, 1882 by Various

Cochineal is turned by the potassa to a violet-red, orchil to a violet-blue, and alkanet to a decided blue.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 363, December 16, 1882 by Various

Withering asserts it yields a purple dye, paler, but more permanent, than orchil; which is prepared in Iceland by steeping in stale lye, adding a little salt and making it up into balls with lime.

From Vegetable Dyes Being a Book of Recipes and Other Information Useful to the Dyer by Mairet, Ethel M.