alkanet (redirected from dyer's alkanets)

al·ka·net  (lk-nt)

n.

1.

a. A European perennial herb (Alkanna tinctoria) having cymes of blue flowers and red roots.

b. The root of this plant or the red dye extracted from the root.

2. Any of various hairy plants of the Eurasian genus Anchusa, having blue or violet flowers grouped on elongated cymes.

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[Middle English, from Old Spanish alcaneta, diminutive of alcana, henna, from Medieval Latin alchanna, from Arabic al-inn', the henna : al-, the + inn', henna; see henna.]

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alkanet [ˈælkəˌnɛt]

n

1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) a European boraginaceous plant, Alkanna tinctoria, the roots of which yield a red dye

2. (Clothing, Personal Arts & Crafts / Dyeing) Also called anchusin alkannin the dye obtained from this plant

3. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) any of certain hairy blue-flowered Old World plants of the boraginaceous genus Anchusa (or Pentaglottis), such as A. sempervirens of Europe See also bugloss

4. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) another name for puccoon [1]

[from Spanish alcaneta, diminutive of alcana henna, from Medieval Latin alchanna, from Arabic al the + hinnā' henna]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

alkanet - perennial or biennial herb cultivated for its delicate usually blue flowers Anchusa officinalis, bugloss anchusa - any of various Old World herbs of the genus Anchusa having one-sided clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers