Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A genus of parmeliaceous lichens of the tribe Usneei.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun Any of a group of
lichens of genus Roccella; especially Rocella tinctoria from whichlitmus is extracted
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun a source of the dye archil and of litmus
Etymologies
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Examples
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On some of the rugged masses of masonry grew large hoary tufts of the strange roccella or orchil-weed, which yields the famous purple dye -- with which, in all likelihood, the robes of the Cæsars were coloured -- and which gave wealth, rank, and name to one princely
Roman Mosaics Or, Studies in Rome and Its Neighbourhood Hugh Macmillan
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In herborizing near La Paz we found a great quantity of Lichen roccella on the basaltic rocks bathed by the waters of the sea.
Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of America, During the Year 1799-1804 — Volume 1 Alexander von Humboldt 1814
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_orcella_ or _roccella_, which grows on the rocks of Greek isles and in the Canaries; and having drunk a great deal of light into its little stems and button-heads, will, under certain circumstances, give it out again as a reddish purple dye, very grateful to the eyes of men.
Romola George Eliot 1849
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a great quantity of Lichen roccella on the basaltic rocks bathed by the waters of the sea.
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