Definition

A purplish-red dye made from specific types of lichens, used for coloring fabrics and other materials.

Example

The artist used cudbear to create vibrant colors in her paintings.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of cudbear?

No, what is it?

It's actually a dye made from certain lichens, and it has a beautiful purplish-red color.

That sounds interesting! I’d love to see what it looks like on fabric.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Cudbear originates from the Scottish word 'cudbear', which refers to a dye made from lichen, particularly the lichen known as 'Roccella tinctoria'. The term is derived from the Old Norse 'kudber', meaning 'to dye'.

Memory Tip

Think of the Scottish word for a natural dye made from lichen, which helps you remember that 'cudbear' refers to a dye.

Visually Confused Words