Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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noun
Any of several lichens, especially those of the genera Roccella and Lecanora.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The purple dye, orcein, extracted from them (especially Lecanora tartarea) and often used as substitute for Tyrian purple.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
any of various lecanoras that yield the dye archil
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: archil
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: lecanora
noun
a purplish dye obtained from orchil lichens
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: archil, cudbear
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: dye, dyestuff
History
From Middle English orchell, from Old French orchel, orseil, from Old Catalan orxella (influenced by dialectal Arabic [script needed] ('urjālla)), from Italian oricello, from Latin ōricilla, diminutive of ōricula (variant of auricula), both diminutives of auris (“ear”)) + illa (a double diminutive suffix) or from auris (“ear”) + cula + illa. The name of the dye was influenced by the visual resemblance of the lichen used in production to a small ear.
Across languages
4 source translations are retained for this English entry.
