cudbear

noun

1. A violet-red dye powder, prepared from certain lichens, especially Ochrolechia tartarea.

   countable, historical, uncountable

   ORCHELLA WEEDS. The cylindrical and flat species of Roccella used in the manufacture of Orchil or Archil, and Cudbear, are so called by the makers.

2. A rim lichen, crabseye lichen (Ochrolechia tartarea.

   countable, uncountable

Where it comes from

Corrupted from the name of Dr. Cuthbert Gordon, a Scotsman, who patented the process of manufacture.

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry cudbear (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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