cudbear Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a purplish dye obtained from orchil lichens
    archil; orchil.

WordNet

Cud"bear` noun
Etymology
Also cudbeard, corrupted fr. the name of Dr. Cuthbert Gordon, a Scotchman, who first brought it into notice.
Definitions
  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.
  2. (Bot.) A lichen (Lecanora tartarea), from which the powder is obtained.

Webster 1913