cudbear

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

cudbear
    n 1: a purplish dye obtained from orchil lichens [syn: {orchil},
         {archil}, {cudbear}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Cudbear \Cud"bear`\ (k?d"b?r`), n. [Also {cudbeard}, corrupted
   fr. the name of Dr. Cuthbert Gordon, a Scotchman, who first
   brought it into notice.]
   1. A powder of a violet red color, difficult to moisten with
      water, used for making violet or purple dye. It is
      prepared from certain species of lichen, especially
      {Lecanora tartarea}. --Ure.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Bot.) A lichen ({Lecanora tartarea}), from which the
      powder is obtained.
      [1913 Webster]