Definition

A type of lichen that is used to make a purple dye.

Example

The artist used orchil to create beautiful purple hues in her paintings.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of orchil?

Yeah, it's that dye made from lichen, right?

Exactly! I read that it was used in ancient textiles.

That's fascinating! I wonder what colors it produces.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Orchil comes from the Old French 'orchel', which is derived from the Latin 'orchilum', meaning a dye obtained from certain lichens. The word refers specifically to a purple dye made from these lichens, historically used in textiles.

Memory Tip

Think of the Old French word for a dye, 'orchel', to remember that 'orchil' refers to a dye made from lichens.

Visually Confused Words