cudbear

Noun
Synonyms: orchilarchil

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

  1. a purplish dye obtained from orchil lichensSynonyms: orchilarchil
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

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]

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