alkanet

American  

[al-kuh-net] / ˈæl kəˌnɛt /

noun

1. a European plant, Alkanna tinctoria, of the borage family.

2. the root of this plant, yielding a red dye.

3. the dye itself.

4. any of several similar hairy plants, as the bugloss, Anchusa officinalis, or a puccoon of the genus Lithospermum.

---

alkanet British  

/ ˈælkəˌnɛt /

noun

1. a European boraginaceous plant, Alkanna tinctoria, the roots of which yield a red dye

2. Also called: anchusin.   alkannin.  the dye obtained from this plant

3. 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. another name for puccoon

---

Etymology

Origin of alkanet

1300–50; Middle English < Old Spanish alcaneta, equivalent to alcan ( a ) henna (plant) (< Medieval Latin alchanna < Arabic al the + hinnā̉ henna) + -eta diminutive suffix

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

alkanet

For rosy cheeks, alkanet and cochineal roots were used as the basis for rouge.

From BBC ● May 10, 2013

On removing from the fire, add three or four small pieces of alkanet root, and keep the vessel closely covered for several hours.

From The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness A Complete Hand Book for the Use of the Lady in Polite Society by Florence Hartley

A little alkanet to color if you wish.

From Our Deportment Or the Manners, Conduct and Dress of the Most Refined Society by John H. Young

Take of sweet oil, 8 ozs.; cantharides and oil of lemon, of each 60 drops; alkanet sufficient to colour it.

From Young's Demonstrative Translation of Scientific Secrets by Daniel Young

On his cheeks was a touch of alkanet; his hair, powdered blue, was encircled by a diadem set with gems.

From Mary Magdalen by Edgar Saltus