Archil

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Archil \Ar"chil\ (?; 277), n. [OF. orchel, orcheil, It. orcella,
     oricello, or OSp. orchillo. Cf. {Orchil}.]
     1. A violet dye obtained from several species of lichen
        ({Roccella tinctoria}, etc.), which grow on maritime rocks
        in the Canary and Cape Verd Islands, etc. --Tomlinson.
        [1913 Webster]


  
     2. The plant from which the dye is obtained. [Written also
        {orchal} and {orchil}.]
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  archil
       n 1: a purplish dye obtained from orchil lichens [syn: {orchil},
            {cudbear}]
       2: any of various lecanoras that yield the dye archil [syn: {orchil}]