orchil n 1: a purplish dye obtained from orchil lichens [syn: {orchil}, {archil}, {cudbear}] 2: any of various lecanoras that yield the dye archil [syn: {archil}, {orchil}]
Orchil \Or"chil\, n. See {Archil}. [1913 Webster]
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]