1. A violet dye obtained from several species of lichen (Roccella tinctoria, etc), which grow on maritime rocks in the Canary and Cape verd islands, etc.
2. The plant from which the dye is obtained.
alternative forms: orchal and orchil.
Origin: OF. Orchel, orcheil, It. Orcella, oricello, or OSp. Orchillo. Cf. Orchil.