Orchils

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of lichen used historically to produce a purple or reddish dye for textiles and inks ; a natural source of colorant obtained from specific moss-like plants ; an organic material derived from lichens valued for its vibrant pigment properties
2. A natural substance extracted from lichens to create purple dyes for coloring fabrics ; a traditional dye component sourced from particular moss species ; a plant-based coloring agent used in the production of red and purple hues
3. A dye-producing lichen utilized in ancient and medieval times to stain materials purple or red ; a botanical extract known for its ability to produce vivid pigments ; a moss-derived ingredient employed in natural coloring methods for textiles and inks

Etymology: "Orchils" is the plural of "orchil", a dye made from lichens, and the name began as a comparison to the human ear. The Latin "auris" meant "ear", and a diminutive "auricula" meant "little ear". From there, Latin formed "ōricilla", a further diminutive, and the Italian "oricello" carried it into the Romance languages. The dye-lichen was named for its resemblance to a small ear, which is why the root is so visibly the same word that gives English "auricle", the outer part of the ear. The name then travelled west and east through trade. Old Catalan "orxella" passed into Old French as "orchel" or "orseil", and English borrowed it as "orchell" in the Middle Ages. Along the way, the Arabic "'urjālla", a name for the same dye, seems to have shaped the form, so a Latin word for an ear ended up naming a Mediterranean dye carried along trade routes.

Synonyms: lichen dye, orchil, cudbear