orchil

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Old French orchel, orseil (modern French orseille), of uncertain origin.

Noun

orchil (countable and uncountable, plural orchils)

  1. Any of several lichens, especially those of the genera Roccella and Lecanora.
  2. The purple dye, orcein, extracted from them (especially Lecanora tartarea) and often used as substitute for Tyrian purple.

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