archil

A noun referring to a purplish dye obtained from certain orchil lichens, or to any of the various lecanora lichens that yield this dye.

• 🇫🇷Nom désignant une teinture violette tirée de certains lichens (orseille), ou l'un des divers lichens du genre Lecanora fournissant ce colorant.

1. Purplish dye C2 formal

   A purplish-red dye obtained from certain lichens, used historically for coloring fabrics and in art.

   • The ancient manuscript was illustrated with archil ink.
   • Artists in the Middle Ages used archil to create vibrant purple hues.
   • The textile industry once relied on archil for dyeing wool.

   🇫🇷Orseille

   Synonymes: cudbearorchil

2. Lichen source C2 formal

   Any of various lichens, especially of the genus Roccella or Lecanora, that yield the dye archil.

   • The archil lichen grows on coastal rocks in the Mediterranean.
   • Botanists studied the archil species for their unique chemical properties.
   • Harvesting archil lichens was a traditional practice in some regions.

   🇫🇷Orseille (lichen tinctorial)

   Synonymes: orchil